Let me start with some history. I am 38 years old and have have very regular periods since I started menstruating, even before birth control. A few years ago I started having mood swings with my bcp and switched a few times, finally starting NuvaRing late last year. I loved it at first and everything seemed normal. Then early this year began getting severe breast tenderness and experiencing weight gain. I finally quit using the NuvaRing in March, I believe, with the intention that hubby will have to make his appointment, and in the meantime to avoid symptoms, we are using the pull-out method. Okay, now I know most of you are gasping! I know, it's not really smart if we don't want a pregnancy, but we tried for years and nothing, so I'm not all that worried. After stopping the NuvaRing, the breast tenderness went away, however, I have yet to have a period after stopping it. I have tested monthly at home since stopping, and I am not pregnant. I have talked to my doctor about my hormones possibly being out of whack, and they do a blood test, then say everything is normal. Everything is not normal; I'm living it. Anyone have any suggestions, ideas of what is going on, etc? I have an appointment for my annual in September, but am curious as to what could be going on. I do have hot flashes occasionally and just the other night woke up sweating profusely when the house was relatively cool. I have thought it was perimenopause for a while, but my doctor never seems to explore this with me.
UPDATE 09/10/08: I saw the OB/GYN today, and he confirmed that it is perimenopause. I am starting back on a low-dose birth control to help balance out the hormones to see if that will help. Thanks again for all your responses.
Thank you all for your responses. Hearing everyone elses experiences and thoughts really helps.
You'll never believe it, but right after I posted yesterday I started bleeding! So weird. It still doesn't seem like a normal period, but we'll see. I haven't had one in so many months, I just can't believe it started after I posted here.
I will still go to the doctor. Like I said, my annual is in early September, and I did book it with a different doctor this time, an OB/GYN. I have always used my primary for everything, including OB/GYN. Well, I think it's time for a specialist to take over and answer some of my questions as well!
I will let you all know that outcome of that appointment once I have it.
Thanks again for all of your responses.
Hello T.,
My sister had a lot of symptoms of menopause and after taking tests they determined it was stress. Are you stressed at all?
On another note, it took my parents about 4 years to get pregnant with my brother, another 3 to get pregnant with my sister and I came 18 months after my sister...they thought it took them a long time to get pregnant, so why use protection =o) Just a little story for you.
My suggestion: Although its on your mind a lot, quit thinking about it. Set a date on the calendar, like say 2-3 weeks out. Then try not to think about your period. If you are stressed at all your body will become unstressed and you will most likely start your period. If not, then you can inquire again at your annual. And for the rest of us out here, enjoy not having a period for a little while. :)
hi tracy,
hot flashes can be a perimenopausal thing, but you are pretty young. did your mom have early menopause?
have you considered acupuncture to help get your hormones back on track? it can help with irregular periods, pms, cramps, infertility, cysts, fibroids, etc.
i know a couple of good ones in the bay area. if you live here, let me know and i can give you their names.
best of luck to you,
G. RN
Get a new doctor. I had my daughter at age 26, then bled for a full month, rather than the more normal week after giving birth. Then I didn't have another period for over five years. I had mood swings, hot flashes, dry skin, pain on intercourse, even arthritis symptoms in my hands to the point where I had trouble opening a car door.
After a couple of years, I had blood tests done, too, and all was "normal" except an underactive thyroid. (Why did I wait so long? Fear.) Started thyooid replacement, but didn't see any changes. Slowly, other things started happening, and I don't even remember them all now, but eventually, I no longer needed to shave my legs or under my arms, I was losing head hair, and what really scared me, my breasts, which had always been very full, were literally going away!
I got scared and went to a different doctor, shared my symptoms, and had an exam and more blood tests. The doctor said, and I quote: "I find two things remarkable - the loss of hair, and that your uterus is very small and hard like a child's." When the blood tests came back, she told me that I was very low on both estrogen and progesterone and that I needed to be on hormone replacement therapy at once, or I would age 10 years in the next year.
I'm now 52 and still on the therapy - I wish I had been able to start it sooner - my daughter got the brunt of my mood swings, and my poor husband was afraid to touch me because of the pain I was having. I never quite made it back to what I feel is normal, but I'm so much better.
I had experienced "primary ovarian failure," the medical term for what causes menopause. At somewhere between ages 26 and 30, I went through menopause. You're not too young.
I think you are experiencing menopause. Menopause is related to the symptoms as you mentioned. Find out at your annual appointment and do horomone testing including TSH and FT4. These are the names of lab work that will identify whether you're on menopause. Hope is well taken care of and good luck!
D.
Hi T.,
Im going through the same thing. I am in my 20's, But I havent recieved my period in 5 months! Have done every blood test and multiple pregnancy tests. I have had the same experiences of feeling like obviously something is wrong with my body and hormones, And My doctors saying well the tests are normal. But I agree its still something. They have told me that stress and aniexty can do it. Im at the point where my doctor wants to put me on hormones to force it. Im so determined to find something else, thats natural. So finally a friend advised me to go to acupuncture. She has used it for alot of health reasons and got great results. She said go to somebody who can also prescribe herbs, because they can do alot for your body especially in combination. Good Luck!
-J.
hey T. -
i just wanted to suggest (if it's within your budget) that you consider seeing an accupuncturist for your hormonal/reproductive/ overall health: they offer many treatments for things that western medicine has no answer for (though western doctors will be happy to do any score of tests to TRY to figure it out) -
there is an accupuncturist in alameda who specializes in women's health and fertility (which doesn't mean you have to be trying to get pregnant, but has to do with our reproductive organs and health). her name is tracy zellwiger (sp?) and the number at their clinic is ###-###-####
anyhow, good luck in resolving your issue!
smiles,
S.
Hi T.,
I am an Acupuncturist and Herbalist in Walnut Creek. I specialize in Women's Wellness. Here is some feedback. A women's hormone system is a true miracle isn't it, and yet when we decide to tell mother nature what to do with the NuvaRing, the body gets very very confused!!! I beleive acupuncture and herbs could help re-balance your body, turning your system back on! This natural approach respects and strengthens the true nature of your body naturally and gently. I recommend it for your concern.
In good health,
J. Balma, MA, MS, LAc
PureBalance Acupuncture & Women's Wellness
###-###-####
When I first came off bcp in my 20's, I didn't have a period for 6 months. I new I wasn't pregnant, because my husband and I had to live apart for awhile due to our job situations. When I finally did start, the first period last for 2 weeks. I stopped for about 2 weeks and then started again. It was just spotting for over a month before I finally went to the doctor. They put me back on bcp for 6 months, with the first being a shock to the system(taking 2 or 3 pills per day to stop the current bleeding). When the 6 months was up, I started being regular or at least semi-regular (I have never been super regular). I don't know if this is an option. Because of the hot flashes, I would tend more to menopause as well. (Watch Father-of-the-Bride II to see what happened to the mother there).
Hi T.,
I am a wellness consultant and have seen women that have the same experience as yourself. Your body has an imbalance somewhere. I have put some women on our program for a short amount of time and they have gotten back on the right track. Their cycle became normal and their hot and cold flashes stopped.
If you would like more info let me know and I will send you some.
Have a great day.
N. Marie
____@____.com
Definitely, I would visit a different doctor (I asked Mamasource moms for a recommendation recently and they did great! I'm very happy with my new RE) to get a different opinion. It sounds like your doctor isn't being very responsive. You deserve to have some answers. Good luck!
It definitely sounds like you are premenopausal. And being in your late 30's, that would make a lot of sense. However, a friend of mine did have some issues in her early 20's when she got off of her bcp. She did not mentruate for about a year. She did get scared, but her doctor assured her that nothing was wrong. ????? And having irregular periods can cause hormonal issues... Vise versa.
Whatever the case is, get answers. Insist. There's nothing worse than not knowing.
iT WILL PROBABLY TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS FOR YOUR CYCLE TO START AGAIN AND YOU ARE AT THE AGHE WHERE IT STARTS TO NOT BE SO REGULAR. MINE WAS SO HEAVY I HAD A HYDROABLASION BECAUSE I COULDNT STAND UP WITH OUT BLOOD POURING DOWN MY LEGS. NOW I HAVENT HAD ONE IN 4 YRS AFTER THE PROCEDURE. IF YOU ARE REALLY DONE HAVING CHILDREN YOU SHOULD CHECK INTO THAT WITH YOUR OB AND SEND YOUR HUSBAND TO THE SNIP DR.
I began menopause after the birth of my second child, when I was 33 years old.
Have your doctor order the blood test to check the menopausal hormone level (I can't remember what it is called). If this is menopause feel free to contact me. I've had to figure it all out and finally feel comfortable with the course I have taken. I am now 47 years old.
Good luck!
L. Ludwigsen
____@____.com
Have you had your thyroid checked? My best friend only gets one to 3 periods a year b/c her thyroid is all out of wack.
Get a second opinion or another doctor. Get a blood pregnancy test - way more accurate. 38 is not too young to be premenopausal - I have a friend who started at this age. Also, I've met a woman in her early 40's who had been married 14 years and never had children - couldn't. They just stopped trying and gave up. Didn't use any protection for 10 years. Then she started having bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, weight gain etc... her primary care doctor ran all sorts of tests EXCEPT a pregnancy test. Finally sent her to the OBGYN because they couldn't figure it out. OBGYN ran a routine pregnancy test with her other blood work and guess what ? She was pregnant! She was already 27 weeks along. In short, please be sure to get another opinion or find a doctor who will communicate more effectively with you.It may just be readjusting after such a long time on birth control but you never know...
I'd find a new doctor, if I were you. Your doc seems to be unresponsive to your concerns and symptoms. It is not normal to miss periods for no reason and it can be a symptom of several serious illnesses, including cancer.
S.
Be sure your doctor has checked your FSH, estrogen levels, TSH (thyroid), and ANA test. Be sure that the doctor has ruled our premature ovarian failure/POF (sometimes called premature menopause) or low ovarian reserve, because you can have hot flashes with POF and still get the occasional period. The ovaries wax and wane during POF and perimenopause. This happened to me in my 20's.
Dear T.,
One word: menopause. I'm too old (!) to know what a NuvaRing is, but everyone's menopause is different, and as someone whose menopause started at 36 and ended at 41 (although at 58, I'm still having hot flashes) I can tell you that if you are in your 30's doctors or obgyn nurses do not normally think of menopause. They will say things like "stress". But finally, at 41, my doctor gave me a test and said, "gee, you're just about through menopause". I too got tested for pregnancy after the first three months with no period when I was 36. By the time I was 38, I was having the worst hot flashes you can imagine, and when I did have a period, I bled for days. Anyway, I think you're starting menopause, based on my experience. Since I went through it so early, and on my own, so to speak, before a lot of attention was paid to it, I don't have any suggestions on how to deal with it. I just lived through it, and it was pretty grim at times. Good luck!
E.
Hi T.,
Some meds do make you gain weight, & change your cycle. Certain meds will do that to you. I do agree with you about hormones. I gained weight with Depo & had no periods. I also got pregnant on it, nice birth control!
I do believe stress, or depression can affect mood swings, let alone the changes in your body too. Your doc needs his head examined.
