So this is for my girlfriend, whom I'm worried about. She's seventeen, so she has been having her period for some time now. However, she skips months rather often (out of 6 months shell have 4 periods). Is this a major concern? I think she should go to the doctor just to get checked out, but am I just over-reacting? I'm just concerned, and would like to know how seriousthis could be and whether or not anyone else has experienced it.
2006-08-25 14:39:49 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
If she is very sports active then her skipping periods is not unusual. But if she isn't that sports active, she should see a doctor. The doctor could put her on birth control pills to regulate her periods which is the usual method. And no you are not over-reacting. If she is sexually active she should consider the birth control pills anyway. It's nice that you are concerned for her and I am sure it is a scary thing for her to be late if you two are sexually active. She could be pregnant one day and you would have a hard time trying to decide if she was or if she was just late. So have her go to the doctor, I am sure she will get the help she needs. Because another reason for lateness could be from ovarian cysts. So either way, she really needs to seek professional help and advice.
2006-08-25 15:02:50 · answer #1 · answered by spidersbite999 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are actually a multitude of reasons why she could be skipping periods.
Firstly, she may not actually be skipping periods, that may just be how her body works.
Secondly, there are a number of environemtnal and phychological factors which alter hormone levels that could effect her periods, from sleep, to stress, to calorie intake (eating disorders can cuase skipped periods, but I'm not suggesting she has an eating disorder *grin*)
Thirdly, there could be something medically amiss, such as ovarian cysts, which can be quite common, and quite harmless, or it could be a sign of something else.
My advice: if she is in any kind of discomfort, she should see a doctor. If her health is otherwise fine, it's probably just the way nature made her.
And she's lucky to have a boyfriend as concerned as you.
Good luck.
2006-08-25 14:47:43 · answer #2 · answered by gazoid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if she's only 17 I wouldn't worry too much about it just yet. Has she been having them for several years or is it relatively new? I got mine at 12 and didn't have one every month until I was in my 20's.
If she is sexually active she needs to see the gyno anyway, to have her yearly exam, so I would bring it up when she goes for her next exam. Odds are she just hasn't regulated yet. Some women don't until after they've had a baby, or gotten on birthcontrol. (that really helps also)
She's not in any pain right, or having horrible problems around that time, that could be a sign of something wrong. But from what you've said I wouldn't worry just yet. Good luck.
2006-08-25 14:46:12 · answer #3 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah, perfectly normal. I don't how old you are, but unless I was on the pill, I had irregular cycles like that clear up until I had my second baby, at 27. Honestly. If she otherwise feels fine, I wouldn't worry about it. Some girls just aren't regular. I never was. In fact, I count on not being able to count on my period. And if I was stressed, forget it. My average cycle ran about 45 days long. But if she's really worried, have her go get checked out. Planned parenthood will do it without the need to contact the parents.
2006-08-25 14:45:55 · answer #4 · answered by I'm just me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Women can skip periods because of stress, a change in lifestyle, weight gain or weight loss, among other things. Skipping periods could also be a sign of something more serious. Either way, she should see a gyn and get checked out to make sure nothing is wrong.
2006-08-25 14:43:29 · answer #5 · answered by Rawrrrr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're overreacting. she's a teenager, and her body is still getting used to the hormones. irregular periods in teenagers and early 20's are completely normal. I started at 15, and got on birth control at 22 because my periods were still irregular. my doc was never worried, the birth control was so *I* didn't have to deal with the irregularity.
a piece of advice: if you two are sexually active, she should be seeing a gyno once a year for checkups. if you are not (good for you!) then she should start seeing the gyno at 18.
2006-08-25 14:44:35 · answer #6 · answered by pooh8402 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She might just have an irregular period. You are right about the doctor thing because anyone who has a period should have a yearly checkup to make sure everything is ok.
2006-08-25 17:32:23 · answer #7 · answered by totally-in-love 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is she on any kind of birth control? Some methods can disrupt normal periods. If not then I think she should at least tell her doctor. They will make sure nothing serious is going on. Then they may decide to per scribe her birth control just to regulate her periods. Better safe than sorry.....get it checked.
2006-08-25 14:46:53 · answer #8 · answered by geni 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was younger, actually before I had my daughter I was the same way, if you are sexually active then you really need to get her to the doctor anyway. Irregular periods can be fixed with birth control.
2006-08-25 18:26:23 · answer #9 · answered by Kay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While its not uncommon for periods to be irregular, she may want to see a doctor anyway. There could be a reason why she misses some periods.
2006-08-25 15:07:44 · answer #10 · answered by hopeless 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋