missing periods -- what is going on??

[themarquis]

Hi disboarders, thought I'd appeal to your collective wisdom.

About a year ago, I started missing menstrual periods. First I just missed one and thought, well, I'm sure its nothing. Then pretty soon, I started to miss a period every other month or so. Now, recently, I haven't had one for about four months.

I talked to my dr. (who is not really a dr. but actually a nurse practitioner and I her!) and at first she said, well, this happens sometimes -- nothing to be worried about. Let's take care of your other health problems first and worry about it later.

Other health problems are taken care of, so about a month ago, I asked her again -- I'm missing periods more often now and haven't had one for a while -- what should I do? This time, she was more serious, asked me a lot of questions, took a lot of notes, and then said, we're going to test you for PCOS. She explained PCOS and they took a blood sample right in the office (one other thing I about the nurse practitioner clinic I go to) . She then said whether or not my test results were abnormal, they will refer me to a gynecologist or reproductive specialist to check me out.

About a week or so later, I contacted her and she said my test results were normal. Now, obviously at some point I need to see a specialist, but what do you all think could be going on? Can a person miss so many periods due to stress or no reason whatsoever? Are there other health conditions that could cause it? By the way, I am 30, so the NP talked about premature menopause but said it is very very very rare for my age group.

My partner and I are thinking about the possibility of having a baby (not soon, but somewhere in the range of 2-4 years from now), so my biggest concern is that whatever is going on could endanger this plan.

What do you all think?

 

[SandraVB79]

I talked to my dr. (who is not really a dr. but actually a nurse practitioner and I her!) and at first she said, well, this happens sometimes -- nothing to be worried about. Let's take care of your other health problems first and worry about it later.

I can't believe that she answered that to you in the first place, especially seen your age!

Anyway, if I were you, I would go ASAP to a good gynecologist (sp?).
Also, are you on any form of Birth control? The birth control I am on now (minipil, don't know if they call it that way in the US too) can have as a consequence that I stop having my periods (can't wait for that day to happen, lol!).
But really, call for an appointment ASAP with a good gynecologist, and have it checked out.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you have some of the indicators for PCOS, you should go to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist who can best make an accurate diagnosis. It's a complex syndrome and one blood test is not the only thing on which a diagnosis would be made. He or she will look at many other things also.

If you do have PCOS, it's important to get treatment, that's why it's so important to be assertive in getting a diagnosis. It can be related not only to infertility, but to a host of other health problems including heart disease and diabetes.

Good luck.

 

[grinningghost]

I started going through the same thing when I was 32. Missing periods, spotting in between - all sorts of weird stuff. After multiple tests, including an endometrial biopsy (that was NOT fun), it was determined that it was simply perimenopause - which is just the beginning of menopause - changes that occur before "the change".

I'm now 41 and still going through the same thing.

Definitely get things checked out, but don't panic, it could really be nothing to worry about.

 

[phillybeth]

Diagnosing PCOS requires more than a blood test. Please go to a GYN or endocrinologist.
Skipping an occasional period is one thing- to go months without one is not healthy and can lead to a precancerous condition. At the VERY least your doctor should have given you the pill for a month to clear out the built-up lining.

 

[minkydog]

If you are 30 and even thinking of having children in the future, you need to find out what's going on. It is not common to skip periods regularly at that age.

 

[noodleknitter]

Go to a real doctor, (ask your GFs for a good one!) The other thing is that when my thyroid makes a change, my periods get muddled. Has been the case since I was young!

Good luck!

 

[Laura]

Do you see a gynecologist? If not, you're overdue for a visit.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You said you are having health problems?
Is your weight OK? Do you exercise excessively? Any connection there?
When did your mom go thru menopause?

4 months without a period is not normal.

 

[miss missy]

Dr's don't seem to think menopause can start so early, but they can. My sis hasn't had hers in 5 years and she is 42! She kept telling them she is going throught the change and they said no no no, now 5 years later, thay are like, oh yep you are done now

other sis is 45 and she is more than half way there now.

It seems to happen a lot more than they want to admit. I would go to a gynecologist now and start there.

 

[JunieJay]

Are you an athlete? My SIL was a competitive gymnast throughout childhood and a good percentage of her adult life and her body fat was minimal. She always had missed periods and was not successful in getting pregnant. She stopped competing and was told she had never ovulated, there was no chance of her getting pregnant. They adopted and exactly 10 years later, at age 48, she had a baby girl.

If not an athlete, how is your nutrition? Are you getting enough to eat, enough nutrients? I know poor diet can have a lot to do with missed periods.

 

[jsmith]

if you run-15 miles a week or more-this can surpress ovulation and cause you not to have periods.

 

[LoraJ]

This happened to me once. I had high prolactin levels. I've been on the pill since then and I have been completely regular. I still have elevated levels though.

 

[4EverFigment]

So do go see your OB/GYN type person (specialist).

There are other things to do as well. Check your stress levels; if anything lately has become more elevated, that can have effects. Talk to your mother, sisters, and grandmothers if possible about their histories. Make sure you're getting enough sleep; enough nutrition (iron, B vitamins). Evaluate any changes you've made to your routine.

My own chemistry changed after I hit the dirty thirties (combination of my genetics and childbirth). It's odd to adjust to, certainly, but once all the scary things are taken out of the equation it's a matter of just getting used to it.

best thoughts to you!

peace
figgy

 

[Lizzy2]

I have just been to my Gyn for a similar situation although I have not missed as many periods as you have and found out it was my thyroid. My gyn said that 90% of the time when a premenopausal woman has messed up cycles its because of their thyroid. Go to your gyn, sweetie, and get a full checkup especially if you want to have babies. They will be able to fix you right up!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

This happened to me once. I had high prolactin levels. I've been on the pill since then and I have been completely regular. I still have elevated levels though.

This happened to me also. The pill regulates you, but once you want to have children taking the pill isn't an option!! There's medicine you can take that makes you ovulate also.......without that my DS's wouldn't be here!!

I still have high prolactin levels, but just take the pill to stay regular.

 

[kilee]

I have PCOS- and I might miss a few periods, then spot for a month. It's all hormonal affects of something or another from the PCOS ( )-but I have the reassurance of a full battery of tests to back this up. Because I have so many problems, my gyn does a yearly sonogram too, just to be sure we're not missing something and writing it off as PCOS.

W/ it being ongoing for so long, I'd insist on a full work up. So, at least you know for sure.

 

[Nicolepa]

I would get your thyroid checked. If your thyroid isour of whack it can mess with everything!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

My periods were getting like that around the time I turned 30 also. They had never been super regular (except when I was on the pill), but they started to come pretty infrequently. When we wanted a baby, I was worried that this could be an issue. It wasn't, though. I got pregnant right away and w/o actually having to plan any sort of "trying".

 

[lowie]

never in my life have i had a regular cycle, some years i have one or two periods. i've had every test and never had issues with getting pregnant. i do have a thyroid condition, but even when my thyroid isn't acting up i still go months without a period. sometimes it can be nothing. but it can't hurt to rule out everything else first.