menstration problems?

Question

ok at first i was too embarassed to talk about this but i believe its gone 2 far.

im 26 and i weigh 175lbs my height is 5"2 and i know im overweighed.

i used to get my period every month, 5 heavy days straight i would get massive cramps and all them symptoms.
at the age of 19 i realized that my period only comes once a year or twice a year or even every other year.... and for a very short period of time.
i've gone to a freakn doctor and all he gave me was a birth control pill, after taking th epill my period came for 3 months (and need i say i gained 20 lbs on that stupid pill), after 3 months it was back to irregularity. the last time i had my period was sep of 2005!!!! HELP!!! the only thing the DR can do is give me birth control pills.... i dont want to gain weight anymore... im already having a hard time loosing and i dont need anymore!

thank you all for taking time and trying to help me. i will seriously take an act towards this matter and i will keep ya'll updated. one luv and God bless

Answer 1

You may have 1 of 2 things or both , PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome and/or endometriosis.

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
PCOS is a health problem that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. Women with PCOS have these characteristics:

high levels of male hormones, also called androgens
an irregular or no menstrual cycle
may or may not have many small cysts in their ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs.
PCOS is the most common hormonal reproductive problem in women of childbearing age.

How many women have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
An estimated five to 10 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS.

What causes Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
No one knows the exact cause of PCOS. Women with PCOS frequently have a mother or sister with PCOS. But there is not yet enough evidence to say there is a genetic link to this disorder. Many women with PCOS have a weight problem. So researchers are looking at the relationship between PCOS and the body’s ability to make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the change of sugar, starches, and other food into energy for the body’s use or for storage. Since some women with PCOS make too much insulin, it’s possible that the ovaries react by making too many male hormones, called androgens. This can lead to acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and ovulation problems.
Why do women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have trouble with their menstrual cycle?
The ovaries are two small organs, one on each side of a woman's uterus. A woman's ovaries have follicles, which are tiny sacs filled with liquid that hold the eggs. These sacs are also called cysts. Each month about 20 eggs start to mature, but usually only one becomes dominant. As the one egg grows, the follicle accumulates fluid in it. When that egg matures, the follicle breaks open to release the egg so it can travel through the fallopian tube for fertilization. When the single egg leaves the follicle, ovulation takes place.

In women with PCOS, the ovary doesn't make all of the hormones it needs for any of the eggs to fully mature. They may start to grow and accumulate fluid. But no one egg becomes large enough. Instead, some may remain as cysts. Since no egg matures or is released, ovulation does not occur and the hormone progesterone is not made. Without progesterone, a woman’s menstrual cycle is irregular or absent. Also, the cysts produce male hormones, which continue to prevent ovulation.
What are the symptoms of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
These are some of the symptoms of PCOS:

infrequent menstrual periods, no menstrual periods, and/or irregular bleeding
infertility or inability to get pregnant because of not ovulating
increased growth of hair on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs, or toes
acne, oily skin, or dandruff
pelvic pain
weight gain or obesity, usually carrying extra weight around the waist
type 2 diabetes
high cholesterol
high blood pressure
male-pattern baldness or thinning hair
patches of thickened and dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs
skin tags, or tiny excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area
sleep apnea―excessive snoring and breathing stops at times while asleep
What tests are used to diagnose Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
There is no single test to diagnose PCOS. Your doctor will take a medical history, perform a physical exam—possibly including an ultrasound, check your hormone levels, and measure glucose, or sugar levels, in the blood. If you are producing too many male hormones, the doctor will make sure it’s from PCOS. At the physical exam the doctor will want to evaluate the areas of increased hair growth, so try to allow the natural hair growth for a few days before the visit. During a pelvic exam, the ovaries may be enlarged or swollen by the increased number of small cysts. This can be seen more easily by vaginal ultrasound, or screening, to examine the ovaries for cysts and the endometrium. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. The uterine lining may become thicker if there has not been a regular period.

How is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) treated?
Because there is no cure for PCOS, it needs to be managed to prevent problems. Treatments are based on the symptoms each patient is having and whether she wants to conceive or needs contraception. Below are descriptions of treatments used for PCOS.

Birth control pills. For women who don’t want to become pregnant, birth control pills can regulate menstrual cycles, reduce male hormone levels, and help to clear acne. However, the birth control pill does not cure PCOS. The menstrual cycle will become abnormal again if the pill is stopped. Women may also think about taking a pill that only has progesterone, like Provera, to regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent endometrial problems. But progesterone alone does not help reduce acne and hair growth.

Diabetes Medications. The medicine, Metformin, also called Glucophage, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, also helps with PCOS symptoms. Metformin affects the way insulin regulates glucose and decreases the testosterone production. Abnormal hair growth will slow down and ovulation may return after a few months of use. These medications will not cause a person to become diabetic.

Fertility Medications. The main fertility problem for women with PCOS is the lack of ovulation. Even so, her husband’s sperm count should be checked and her tubes checked to make sure they are open before fertility medications are used. Clomiphene (pills) and Gonadotropins (shots) can be used to stimulate the ovary to ovulate. PCOS patients are at increased risk for multiple births when using these medications. In vitro Fertilization (IVF) is sometimes recommended to control the chance of having triplets or more. Metformin can be taken with fertility medications and helps to make PCOS women ovulate on lower doses of medication.

Medicine for increased hair growth or extra male hormones. If a woman is not trying to get pregnant there are some other medicines that may reduce hair growth. Spironolactone is a blood pressure medicine that has been shown to decrease the male hormone’s effect on hair. Propecia, a medicine taken by men for hair loss, is another medication that blocks this effect. Both of these medicines can affect the development of a male fetus and should not be taken if pregnancy is possible. Other non-medical treatments such as electrolysis or laser hair removal are effective at getting rid of hair. A woman with PCOS can also take hormonal treatment to keep new hair from growing.

Surgery. Although it is not recommended as the first course of treatment, surgery called ovarian drilling is available to induce ovulation. The doctor makes a very small incision above or below the navel, and inserts a small instrument that acts like a telescope into the abdomen. This is called laparoscopy. The doctor then punctures the ovary with a small needle carrying an electric current to destroy a small portion of the ovary. This procedure carries a risk of developing scar tissue on the ovary. This surgery can lower male hormone levels and help with ovulation. But these effects may only last a few months. This treatment doesn't help with increased hair growth and loss of scalp hair.

A healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way women can help manage PCOS. Since obesity is common with PCOS, a healthy diet and physical activity help maintain a healthy weight, which will help the body lower glucose levels, use insulin more efficiently, and may help restore a normal period. Even loss of 10% of her body weight can help make a woman's cycle more regular.

How does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affect a woman while pregnant?
There appears to be a higher rate of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, and premature delivery in women with PCOS. Researchers are studying how the medicine, metformin, prevents or reduces the chances of having these problems while pregnant, in addition to looking at how the drug lowers male hormone levels and limits weight gain in women who are obese when they get pregnant.

No one yet knows if metformin is safe for pregnant women. Because the drug crosses the placenta, doctors are concerned that the baby could be affected by the drug. Research is ongoing.


Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) put women at risk for other conditions?
Women with PCOS can be at an increased risk for developing several other conditions. Irregular menstrual periods and the absence of ovulation cause women to produce the hormone estrogen, but not the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, which causes the endometrium to shed each month as a menstrual period, the endometrium becomes thick, which can cause heavy bleeding or irregular bleeding. Eventually, this can lead to endometrial hyperplasia or cancer. Women with PCOS are also at higher risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Getting the symptoms under control at an earlier age may help to reduce this risk.

Does Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) change at menopause?
Researchers are looking at how male hormone levels change as women with PCOS grow older. They think that as women reach menopause, ovarian function changes and the menstrual cycle may become more normal. But even with falling male hormone levels, excessive hair growth continues, and male pattern baldness or thinning hair gets worse after menopause.

What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common and chronic gynecological and immunological disease that can result in pelvic pain. About 2-4% of women and girls of reproductive age and up to 30% of women with infertility have endometriosis. That amounts to approximately 5.5 million women in the United States and Canada.

The disease occurs when endometrial cells (the cells that line the inside of the uterus) develop outside of their normal location inside the uterus. The misplaced endometrial cells respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way as those lining the uterus. The tissue grows and sheds blood at the time of menses. However, instead of flowing out of body through the vagina, the blood shed by the misplaced cells has no way of leaving the body. The resulting internal bleeding can lead to chronic inflammation and the formation of adhesions and scar tissue.

Location of Endometriosis
Areas commonly affected by endometriosis include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, the area between the vagina and rectum (cul-de-sac), the outer surface of the uterus and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Endometrial lesions can also be found in the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix and vulva. More rarely the lung and other body tissues can be affected.

The frequency that endometriosis is found to occur in the pelvic area is:

Cul-de-sac - 72%
Uterosacral ligaments - 41% right and 45% left
Broad ligaments - 43% right and 52% left
Uterus - 16%
Ovaries - 17% right and 17% left
Fallopian tubes 7% right and 9% left
Bladder - 33%
Sigmoid colon - 18%
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms. But for many others, endometriosis can cause severe pain that interferes with activities of daily living. Endometriosis can also lead to other distressing conditions such as infertility, adhesions and scar tissue that entraps the reproductive organs.

Symptoms of endometriosis include:

Focal pelvic tenderness
Chronic Fatigue
Premenstrual spotting
Heavy periods
Infertility
Diarrhea
Constipation
Nausea
Repeated miscarriages
Dymenorrhea (increasingly painful periods)
Painful and difficult urination during periods
Painful bowel movements during periods
Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
Extensive allergies and related problems
Low resistance to infection
Many patients suffering from endometriosis experience painful intercourse. This can be an important clue to your doctor/nurse in diagnosing your condition. If you are experiencing painful intercourse it is important that you mention this to your doctor/nurse even if they do not ask about it specifically.

In addition to the physical symptoms, women with endometriosis can also experience emotional problems such as depression and poor self-image. The combination of physical and emotional symptoms can stress relationships to the breaking point.
Other Symptoms
Symptoms are the physical signs that an aspect of your health has changed. Symptoms vary from person to person but certain symptoms indicate underlying problems. Women with pelvic support problems may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Vaginal heaviness or a feeling that "something is falling out" - Women with prolapse report feeling that "something is falling out." This may be caused by the shifting position of internal organs that have lost their normal pelvic floor support. This may be the only symptom that some women experience but it accurately describes the downward pull they may feel from a change in uterine position.


Vaginal pain - Different from pelvic pain, vaginal pain may occur during intercourse or during normal daily activities. Vaginal pain may also occur along with pelvic pain but may be experienced during different activities.


Anal pain - Pain in the rectum or during defecation may occur when the uterus has moved from its normal position and is pushing up against the rectum or lower colon. It may occur at any time during the day or may be worse before or after defecation.


Difficulty passing urine or stool - The bladder and rectum are in close proximity to the uterus. With uterine prolapse, all of these organs may be affected. It may be more difficult to void urine if the urethra (tube that empties the bladder) is impinged upon by a lower uterine position.


Backache - Sometimes a vague aching in the back may signal a problem with retroverted uterus or other pelvic organ prolapse. The backache may be relieved by changing standing or sitting positions or by lying down.


Your doctor did the right thing by putting you on birth control. You need to have a period atleast 4 times a year (every three months) Not having a period puts you at a higher risk of endometrial cancer.
I have some questions and I hope you dont mind my asking , you can email me with the answers .
1) do you have excessive hair ?
2) do you have problems with acne?
3) do you get pain on one or both sides of your lower abdomen?
4) do you have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure?
5) do you or your family have a history of diabetes?
I hope you feel comfortable answering these.
I have both PCOS & Endometriosis. Diagnosed with PCOS @ 15 and Endometriosis @ 23. Its an uphill battle . I've dealt with it a long time. I hope this helps ! Good Luck !!!!

Answer 2

I've had similar problems. . . . I'm also overweight. But when I lose weight they get normal and regular. Every time I hit a certain weight, the period stops, I know how hard it is to lose weight, but please try and do so and see if it helps with your periods.
Also my doc recently found out that I'm a celiac, I'm allergic to wheat, barley and rye protein (gluten). . . . it's a bit more complicated than that, but turned out that's what was making me fat and hungry all the time, also it kept my body from taking in nutrients, which really screwed up my cycle.
Your period sounds a hell of a lot like me, even your body size/height is almost like mine a few months ago. . .please look into Celiac disease (CD) . . if it sounds anything like you, talk to your doctor about it, or go off gluten and see what's up.

This is not some random claim, CD has been associated with unexplained infertility (not getting your period definitely points to it). . . . and amenorrhea (absentee period).

Please read this rather short article too.
http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1346

And if you have any questions (and don't want to read pages and pages about celiac, e-mail me).




Also it never hurts to see another doctor. . . .
I've had my fair share of horrible incompetent doctors.

Answer 3

Infertility can be caused by a huge number of factors: hormone imbalance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, Anovulatory Cycles, physical blockage, inadequate hormone production, short luteal phase, lack of lutenizing hormone, high levels or prolactin, and many others. How to get pregnant https://tr.im/rs5p1

Poor nutrition often plays a major role, as does exposure to toxins. Age plays less of a role before menopause than was originally thought. While there are many wonderful naturally minded fertility specialists out there, in many cases it is not possible for them to test for and address any of these possible underlying issues.

Answer 4

Now everyone can cure infertility using this natural remedy http://pregnancyhelps.info
infertility can run in the family and one of the first things the doctor asks you when you go to a fertility clinic is your family history regarding cases of infertility or other reproductive issues.
If infertility is caused by genetic disorder then it's not unusual that one of the kids (your mom) doesn't have it and another does (your aunt).
two months of trying is still to early to be concerned about the fact that you might be infertile and it's also quite early to go to a fertility specialist. Go to a regular Obgyb to get a closer insight and see what ways there are are to improve your fertility rate.
Also remove alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes from your life because they might influence your chances too. Stress is also a risk factor when it comes to infertility.

Answer 5

High blood levels of glucose can cause several problems, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight loss, and blurry vision. However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all. How to treat diabetes naturally https://tr.im/XJDwb

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting

Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time, and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Increased appetite
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Slow-healing infections
Impotence in men



If you think you have diabetes i think you should have a checkup and speak with your doctor just in case.

Answer 6

Ask your doctor about PCOS- polycystic ovary syndrome, it occurs in more women than you would think... And usually occurs in women that are overweight. But that's just a precaution. Try excersizing and getting to a healthy lifestyle and see if that helps- but it could never hurt to ask about PCOS because it can be bad. If there's anyone in your family with it, definently get check out.
There are some other symptoms for PCOS you can look up on google if you're curious.

Answer 7

Why are you confident that you're not pregnant? If it's just because you're still getting periods, that doesn't necessarily mean you're not pregnant. Some women continue to get periods through their entire pregnancies, though of course that's not the norm. If you've had sex at all, even with protection, in the past four months or so, I would get a pregnancy test.

Answer 8

Are you seeing a gynecologist? You need to. Weight can cause disruptions in menstruation but there are many more things you should be tested for- birth control pills are not the solution for you, it seems. You need a good physical- find another Dr. You may also want to see an acupuncturist- I have heard of success with this alternative therapy. Good Luck....

Answer 9

If you haven't had a period since Sept 2005 your doctor should have given you progesterone to induce a bleed.
Also you need to be checked for PCOS or other hormonal irregularities.
Sounds like you need a better doctor!

Answer 10

Pls go get another opinion and preferably not from a dr that shares the same office of the dr you currently go to. It really sounds like you could have a hormone imbalance going on.

Answer 11

Choose a whole-wheat wrap rather than two slices of wheat bakery.