When A Teenagers Irregular Periods Are Cause For Concern
One common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, which is difficult to diagnose in adolescents.
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Ive written recently about teenagers having too-heavy periods and too-painful periods, and now I want to talk about too-irregular periods. These issues can overlap, but lets focus on what it can mean when an adolescent doesnt menstruate regularly and on the question of how irregular is too irregular.
Dr. Andrea Bonny, an associate professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University and chief of adolescent medicine at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, said that in the past, many doctors had thought that in the first two years after menstruation begins, really, anything goes, as far as frequency.
Now, she said, the thinking is that some irregularity is OK, but to go more than 90 days without a period for two consecutive periods is concerning and should get worked up medically. After someone has been menstruating for two years, she said, intervals shorter than 21 days or longer than 45 days are considered abnormal, especially if they recur. And many adolescents with irregular cycles like those with heavy periods, and like those with very painful periods may be offered hormone treatments, either oral contraceptives or other hormone-based contraceptives.
Should I Continue Using Birth Control During The Transition To Menopause
Yes. You can still get pregnant during perimenopause, the transition to menopause, even if you miss your period for a month or a few months. During perimenopause you may still ovulate, or release an egg, on some months.
But it is impossible to know for sure when you will ovulate. If you dont want to get pregnant, you should continue to use birth control until one full year after your last period. Talk to your doctor about your birth control needs. Learn more about different birth control methods.
You cant get pregnant after menopause, but anyone who has sex can get sexually transmitted infections . If you are not in a monogamous relationship in which you and your partner have sex with each other and no one else, protect yourself by using a male condom or dental dam correctly every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. After menopause you may be more likely to get an STI from sex without a condom. Vaginal dryness or irritation is more common after menopause and can cause small cuts or tears during sex, exposing you to STIs.
What Does A Typical Period Look Like
In the great words of Fraulein Maria, lets start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. SCIENCE HOUR. Menstruation is cycle that is usually 28-30 days. During a normal menstrual cycle your hormones are working around the clock. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is released from the hypothalamus and it works on the pituitary to release follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone . These hormones then act on the ovaries, which produces estrogen and progesterone, which work on the uterus to carry out the menstrual cycle. This process is regulated by something called the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. At the end cycle, the uterine lining sheds off, leading to menstruation, aka AUNT FLO.
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You Might Start Breaking Out Before Your Period
Once you hit 40, its like going through puberty again, says Dr. Gupta, who warns women that they might start breaking out again, just like in high school. “I call it the second wind of the dying female hormonal machine, she adds. Women also start to get hot flashes and night sweats during perimenopause, but these symptoms tend to come and go as hormones fluctuate, says Dr. Dunsmoor-Su.
Bottom Line On Why You Lost Your Period And What To Do
At the end of the day, Im a Dietitian, and my scope of practice isnt to diagnosis why youve lost your period. Your first step should always be to speak to your doctor to help you rule out serious medical reasons like PCOS. But what I can recommend is that if you are underweight, dieting, over-exercising and missing your period, adding a dietitian to your healthcare team may help you create a plan to help you get that period back safely.
Contributed By
RD2B Hannah Wilson & Sofia Tsalamlal, RD, MHSc Nutrition Communication
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When To Visit The Ob/gyn
A rule of thumb when dealing with periods is that one or two irregular months arent abnormal, but anything more is worth a phone call to our office. Amenorrhea, which is the absence of periods, can be caused by a number of factors, and we can help diagnose and treat those issues.
Have you noticed something is off with your menstrual cycle? Bring your problems to Dr. Serrano at Serrano OBGyn. You can make an appointment by calling our office in San Antonio, Texas, at 210-761-5309, or visit our contact page for more information.
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Can A Girl Get Pregnant As Soon As Her Period Starts
Yes, a girl can get pregnant as soon as her period starts. A girl can even get pregnant right before her very first period. This is because a girl’s hormones might already be active. The hormones may have led to and the building of the uterine wall. If a girl has sex, she can get pregnant, even though she has never had a period.
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Does A Missed Period For 2 Months Mean I’m Pregnant
When you are pregnant, your menstrual periods will stop. However, a missed period doesn’t always mean you’re pregnant. If you’re wondering whether you might be pregnant, there are a few points that point to a possible pregnancy. These include:
- You were actively trying to get pregnant in the months before.
- You ovulated prior to your period’s stopping.
- You had sexual intercourse in the ovulation window .
- You were sexually active and not using birth control.
If all of the above points are true, then you have a good chance of being pregnant.
Signs of Early Pregnancy
The only way to truly know if you’re pregnant is a positive pregnancy test and confirmation by a doctor. However, there are a few signs that may give clues to a possible pregnancy. If a missed period for 2 months is due to pregnancy, you’ll start feeling the symptoms below around the four-week mark. Some women even notice subtle changes sooner than four-weeks.
- Breast tenderness
- Breast fullness
- Nausea
- Lower abdominal bloating and fullness
- Feeling short of breath with exercise
- Sensitive to smells
- Feeling tired all the time
- Needing to urinate more often
- Higher than normal body temperature
- Dizziness
- Constipation
Referral To A Specialist
If your GP thinks an underlying medical condition might have caused your periods to stop, they may refer you to a specialist.
Depending on what your GP thinks is causing the problem, you may be referred to:
- a gynaecologist a specialist in treating conditions affecting the female reproductive system
- an endocrinologist a specialist in treating hormonal conditions
You may have a full gynaecological examination and various tests, including:
- blood tests to see whether you have abnormal levels of certain hormones
- an ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan to identify any problems with your reproductive system or pituitary gland
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What Should I Do If I Have Not Started My Period
Girls start their periods at a very variable age. So it may be that your friends have been having periods for a while but you have not. Usually this will be normal variation and nothing to worry about. Ask your doctor’s advice if:
- You are 16 years old or older and still have no periods.
- You are 14 years old or older and have not developed breasts or pubic hair and do not have periods.
- You have a pain in your tummy every month but no bleeding.
- You can feel a lump in the lower part of your tummy.
- You have had sex without using contraception .
Producing Too Much Prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone that the body usually makes during breastfeeding. It can halt menstruation and is the reason why most breastfeeding women do not have periods.
In people who are not breastfeeding, a milky discharge from the nipples can signify that the body is making an abnormally high amount of prolactin. Doctors can treat excessive prolactin production with medication.
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How To Know If Your Period Is Late
It can be hard to know if your period is late, if you donât know your average cycle length or when your last period was. With Clue you can view your recent period dates, cycle averages and predictions for your next three cycles. You can set a reminder to let you know when your period is coming, and to alert you if itâs late.
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When To See The Doctor
It is advised to get a medical consultation after your teens first period itself. If your teen has irregular periods or missed periods, make an appointment with a gynecologist to identify the cause and take preventive measures if required.
If your teen has any symptoms of thyroid disorders, eating disorders, or stress, seek medical care. You may take a doctors advice regarding nutrition and exercises if your teen is an athlete.
If your teen is pregnant, you may seek medical care for the evaluationof both the mother and baby. An early prenatal visit could help reduce the risk of complications associated with teen pregnancy and delivery.
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What Are Irregular Periods
Even though girls get their periods on a cycle, that cycle can take different amounts of time each month. For example, a girl might get her period after 24 days one month and after 42 days the next. These are called irregular periods.
Irregular periods are very common, especially in a girl’s first few years of getting her period.
Why You Lost Your Period
Periods are largely regulated by hormones. So, if theres a hormone issue, its expected youll see changes in your period or miss your period altogether. This can be referred to as hypothalamic amenorrhea. Meaning, the hypothalamus stops releasing hormones responsible for starting the menstrual cycle which in turn leads to missed periods.
Obviously if youre pregnant, breastfeeding or in menopause, youll miss out on your monthly visitor, but what if youre not in that category and youre still not getting your period? There isnt a simple answer to this question, which is why weve put together a bunch of reasons why you might not be getting your period.
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Being Overweight Or Obese
Being overweight or obese can also affect your menstrual cycle. If you’re overweight, your body may produce an excess amount of oestrogen, one of the hormones that regulate the reproductive system in women.
The excess oestrogen can affect how often you have periods, and can also cause your periods to stop. Your GP may refer you to a dietitian if you have a BMI of 30 or more, and it’s affecting your periods. The dietitian will be able to advise you about losing weight safely.
What To Do When Your Period Is Late
If your period is more than a week late and you got a negative pregnancy test, you may want to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to be safe. Your doctor can do a blood test to confirm that youre not pregnant.
If the blood test is also negative and your practitioner rules out any other possible concerns, its fine to sit back and go with the flow . Every woman skips a period now and then, especially if shes under stress or has been sick. Relax and do what you can to ease anxiety by eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
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When Does Menopause Usually Happen
Menopause happens when you have gone 12 months in a row without a period. The average age of menopause in the United States is 52. The range for women is usually between 45 and 58.2 One way to tell when you might go through menopause is the age your mother went through it.3
Menopause may happen earlier if you:
- Never had children. Pregnancy, especially more than one pregnancy, may delay menopause.4
- Smoke. Studies show smoking can cause you to start menopause up to two years earlier than women who dont smoke.5
Certain health problems can also cause you to start menopause earlier.
Menopause usually happens on its own. However, you may enter menopause earlier than you normally would if you have had chemotherapy or surgery to remove both ovaries. Learn more about early menopause on our Early or premature menopause page.
Causes Of Missed Periods In Teenagers
Causes of amenorrhea in teenage girls include :
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Reasons For A Missed Period
Pregnancy is by far the most common cause of a missed period, but there are some other medical and lifestyle factors that can affect your menstrual cycle. Extreme weight loss, hormonal irregularities, and menopause are among the most common causes if you’re not pregnant.
You may miss a period for one or two months, or you may experience complete amenorrheathat is, no period for three or more months in a row. This article explores 10 common reasons your period may be delayed.
Verywell / Cindy Chung