Teen Menstrual Cycle

I got my period at 12 and didn't have regular ones until about 17 or 18. It's completely normal to have extra long periods, more frequent, less frequent, etc. But she should be going to an ob/gyn yearly anyway, so have her track them in a notebook or on a calendar so she can bring that info to the ob/gyn when she goes. have her track not only what day she starts and stops, but if the flow is heavy, medium, or light and what days she is cramping on

This happened to me when I was a young teenager. In fact I think it was near the begining of my menstral, maybe 12 or 13. the dr. put me on birth control pills to regulate my period and it worked. i remember at one time having my period for 40plus days, and then be off for a week, and back on for 38! The pill regulated me, and then he took me off, and I was ok except that i had very heavy periods for many years when I was young. They are not good for you!( heavy periods). So I have been on the pill for most of my adult life, except to get pregnant. It took me almost 2 yrs to get pregnant. when I am on the pill I have very light periods, and they have gotten even lighter over the years. I am 49 now, still have a very light period regularly ( spotting for 3 days). See about getting her on the pill for a few months. Blessings. S.

It is completely normal for a teen to not be regular, but it is not that normal to have her period for 3 weeks straight. I did have a friend in high school had a cycle that was 2 weeks every other month, so it is possible that her body may have a cycle that is not like every one else. It is a good idea to take her to an OB/GYN in case it is due to a cyst or something. I had a friend in junior high with this issue and it ended up being a cyst issue. Also obesity does have an effect on your cycle. Fat holds estrogen and can throw your cycle off in so many ways. It can also cause cysts and contribute to polycystic ovarian syndrome. So the weight loss options you are considering may also help this problem.

Most likely it is nothing to worry about, but better to be safe than sorry!

Because I learned about this the hard way, I hope she does learn to take care of herself ASAP. I am much older now, and I was never overweight until my late 20s. I used to crawl to bathroom on cycle and had dysplasia & fibroids. I used to see ob/gyn specialist several times a year had many procedures done, I finally switched gyn who removed huge fibroids and told me they would be back in 3-5 months (he said it so matter-of-factly, probably because it is the norm). I was also seeing a GI Dr who was now sending me to a specialist. I finally drew the line and started to do things on my own (I am not saying to give up your Drs, just keep some things in mind). I was already taking a Holistic Nutrtion course with Clayton College of Natural Health. My first GYN always had me on birth control pills (BCP), meds like anti-biotics (I used to get infections often) were always causing me to have yeast infection and that would lead to more anti-biotics. It was like I was on the merry-go-round & could not get off. Once I decided to get off, I got off BCP, and started a strict vegetarian diet (for detox purposes). Diet and supplements were key for me. For instance, all animal products have naturally occuring hormones that can reek havoc on our bodies. Milk is a huge culprit now a days because of all the added anti-biotics & hormones, organic milk still has a lot of hormones simply because cow's milk is designed to make baby weigh 500 lbs in 6 months (U do the math-FYI www.notmilk.com). My vegan diet consists of: fruits, vegetables, avocado, beans, lentils, brown rice, quinoa, almonds, walnuts, flaxseed, ezekial bread, filtered water, almond milk. I ate as much as I wanted, as organic as possible to elliminate toxins which hang out in fat. Avoid: high fructose corn syrup, msg, dairy, trans fat, D & C colors, processed foods). Another thing I found out is that if you are on BCP, you really should be taking a very good multi vitamin (good ones have d-tocopherol, no dyes, no gelatin)as BCP deplete your body of nutrients. Its been 5 yrs and I no longer have fibroids, periods are normal, asthma, and my IBS (I later found out is what Drs label it when they just don't know what you have)is gone. I see my new OB/GYN every 2 years now, while many of my relatives with similar problems have had hysterectomies. Good books to get your daughter are the Skinny B!%(& and in the Kitch (funny and direct). I know this is over-whelming, I hope it helps, she is young enough to learn good eating habits.
C
www.mybiopro.com/claudia13 (learn how to protect your family from cell phone radiation).

Have your daughter see a Gyn. Don't want to scare you but she may have fibroids in her ovaries or even her uterus. Pediatricians will not be able to help your daughter much with this type of problem.

Best of luck,
Elisa M

It sounds like this is an issue to discuss with an ob/gyn...

When I was growing up a friend of mine had irregular cycles and the doctor put her on birth control. It didn't stop her periods but made them a little more regular. If she's trying to lose weight you might want to try a weight loss patch. My mother has lost 17lbs and gone from a 22 down to a 14 without excercise, she started in August. A friend of mine her top weight was 200 in a size 16 and she's now down to a 2. Her's has been a little over a year and same with her she doesn't excercise although she's capable she just doesn't like to. Several other friends and husband also using it and getting great results. It's all natural, easy, no pills, shakes and you don't have to cut out foods. It helps you lose weight while you maintain your muscle mass, plus it helps to build more muscle mass, curves your appetite, gives you energy and helps you sleep better. Each box is a 30 day supply. You stick one on, wear it for 24 hours then swap it out with a new one. You can wear in the shower, swimming or even if you sweat. Everyone was getting such great results that I even signed up to sell it. There are 2 levels you can do and you'll receive results on both. Let me know if you have any questions. Also you can check out my website at www.nexagenusa.com/startthepatch After my first son I got up to 218 and stayed there. I felt horrible about myself and I'm up for helping anyone to avoid that. Especially at her age there are so many other things that will play into as well at school and with friends.

Oh by the way for cramping get Midol Complete. It works wonders for bloating, pain and even helps with energy. I usually have pains so bad my legs start going numb and I'm doubled over. Midol Complete does the trick. I've even tried other midols and they helped but didn't get everything. Again let me know if you have any questions about the patch or anything else.
Good Luck and I'll keep yall in my prayers.
M.

i would take her to an on/gyn, too. Her weight might be messing with her cycle also. I am glad to here about the gastro. Good luck with that.
when you find out why she has such heavy,long periods, a birth control pill might help with that.( it helps me)
Good luck and I thing you are an awesome mom!

It's not healthy to have a really long period. She's going to start to feel sick and tired. The ultrasound was likely to find out why she has such a long period. This has happened to me a few times. One was after I had a baby and the others just happened. I was given birthcontrol even though I was a virgin to regulate my period.
Get her some cranberry juice for the bladder infection and tell her not to hold it when she needs to go. I got these a lot in high school because I didn't have much time between classes to go.
I know it's a touchy subject, but find out if she's sexually active. That could be the cause of both issues. They are both easily treated.
Now for you. Unless you have gone through the changh anything over three months is too long to go without a cycle. You body needs to get rid of the toxins. Another thought is if she may not be regular because you are not.
I wouldn't worry too much, but you do need to get to the bottom of this quickly. It may be good for both of you to go to the gyn and for her to get her first pap.

I had a daughter who drunk to many sodas and it caused her to have a bladder infection and caused her period to start. Have her cut out the sodas for awhile. Also have her checked for fibroids, they make your period heavy, painful, and long.

I know my step-sister had a similar problem when we were teenagers. She wouldn't get her period for six months and when she did get it, it lasted for six weeks!! Our Mother put her on the pill and everything regulated.

You'd really have to consult with a OBY/GYN about the type of pill you would possibly put your daughter on because some can cause weight gain and at her stage, I don't believe you want anymore weight added. I'm not a doctor, but I think the menstrual cycle is just an imbalance of hormones and not because of the weight, which some may try and blame the irregular cycles on.

Good luck!

The medical term for this is called menorrhagia and is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance. These times of hormone imbalance are not uncommon in women who are just beginning period cycles (such as your daughter) and those who are in peri-menopause. Often it is because the ovaries is not releasing an egg. When women first begin having periods, girls aren't always ovulating. It takes time for everything to sync together and have all of the hormone levels work together.
You mentioned you daughter is also overweight. Body fat in larger than normal amounts can begin acting as a gland and can secrete estrogen. This could also be playing a part in her hormone imbalance.
Another possible cause are fibroid tumors. These are usually not cancerous. They grow in the presence of estrogen. Depending on where the fibroid is growing, it can also interfere with normal bladder function or bowel function. Many times the presence of a fibroid tumor is not enough to warrant removal. It isn't until it is causing other problems that it would be removed.
These are just a few possibilities of the cause of all of this. I would say it is definitely warranted to have her see an OB/GYN. It is possible that there is really nothing going on and it's just her body trying to balance out hormones. Birth control pills can supplement her hormones to control her cycle so she won't be so miserable if this is the cause. Or you may find it is something else there are treatments for those causes as well. Hope you are able to find a answer and a quick solution so she can get back to being herself.

M.,
I think it's wise for your daughter to see the gynecologist. I would be hesitant to take any medication or birth control pills, though.

In my case, I suffered with some weight and acne, plus irregular periods for years. I lost 50 lbs. working out and eating right, and was finally diagnosed with PCOS and endometriosis (birth control pills can exacerabte the PCOS, as can extra weight; per a British doctor, a majority of girls suffering from acne have PCOS but aren't diagnosed by the dermatologists) by a reproductive endocrinologist, then finally gluten intolerance by a nutritionist. In my case changing my diet finally solved my hormonal imbalance and got my cycle normalized so I could actually get pregnant. It also gave me the most pain-free period I had had in my life.

So, in addition to the ob-gyn, I would recommend a nutritionist who could verify any possible underlying food allergies or problems that could be causing the weight gains, infection, and hormonal imbalances. After my diagnosis, I came across a British nutritionist's website, where she indicated that in her patients with painful periods, removing wheat corrected the pain in 80% of the cases.

Another poster commented on the endocrine disrupters in our food supplies. As someone with a condition sensitive to that, I can vouch for it. Also, most folks don't understand that even our grains are different now--wheat has 6x the gluten it used to have 100 years ago. Is it any wonder more folks have a hard time digesting it now?

I would also recommend the nutritionist in lieu of the gastoenterologist from a lifestyle perspective. Gastric bypass may seem like the "only" or "easiest" option to your daughter, but has lifelong effects. I've known several people who have; none had serious complications, but they had to change their lifestyle more dramatically (and permanently) than I did to lose the weight I did. In my opinion, you have to change either way. The nutritionist could help get you on a healthy diet plan, and help keep you there . . . enabling her to live a "normal" life. (The one I've worked with is way better than a dietician. A 45-minute appointment every month that is totally Q&A on whatever I need help with. A great way to have the support you need to make a lifestyle change.) Make sure they are board certified. Either way, her diet will have to change radically. I think her lifestyle and diet would end up being more "normal" (yet healthy) in the long run going with a nutritionist than having surgery. It's also a great time for her to make a change like that while she has your support, and the rest of her life ahead of her.

I don't suggest diet change lightly. I dealt with the diabetic diet while pregnant, and now there's a lot of food I can't eat because it literally makes me sick. I also know diabetics who don't eat the way they should--because they aren't willing to change (or eat things more in moderation)--and it's literally killing them. (One acquaintance had a very lingering few final years, another is set to go the same way, and my mother isn't very far behind.) Our medical profession handles this with a few classes and medication--and usually nothing for the emotional and social implications, so most patients fail to stick to their diets consistently.

Diet change is very hard, very cultural, very emotional. It can also be hard to eat healthy when most folks around you don't. It takes a lot of resolve, effort, knowledge (how to cook and shop), time (to cook), and sometimes more money than eating poorly. The more support she has (you, nutritionist, etc.), the better. But the results--more balanced hormones, better sleep, self-confidence, health, better fertility, longer life, better quality of life--are so worth it. I've kept off those 50 lbs, was able to get pregnant, didn't permanently gain weight after my first child, and this time didn't need blood sugar medication while pregnant.

Another option is to see a regular endocrinologist. However, they will most likely just want to put her on medication instead of solving the problem.

Its good that you're going to the OB/GYN. Your daughter at 16, while still considered a kid, is physically almost an adult and to be taking her to a pediatrician is probably is not the right kind of doctor. I'm sure the reason he didn't react about her period at all is because it's probably very rare he even sees a kid that is having one. Not his area of expertise lets just say. Also her weight can be an issue. Probably not something he sees everyday either. The OB/GYN will probably run some blood tests and try to see what is going on.

Ask about PCOS. Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. I'm probably miss-spelling it. It can be associated with extra weight gain and ovarian cysts. I've never heard about it effecting someone so young but I'm not a doctor. When I was 13 I had an ovarian cyst, not related to PCOS, that was growing on the side of my ovary. It was large enough that it was cutting of the tube between my kidney and my bladder which was giving me terrible kidney and bladder infections.

I'm also glad you are taking her to see the Gastro doctor. I would try to make those appointments close together because the two things probably are related. Her excessive weight, especially at that young of age, can cause such a vast amount of other health problems, from heart problems to diabetes that it's probably the cause of her on going period. Maybe with these two doctors putting both their ideas and thoughts and tests into the pot they can figure out what is wrong.

The next thought is for you mom. I could be way off base with this so if all is well with you than that is wonderful. If you are also overweight and your daughter is found to have PCOS you might want to be tested yourself. It runs in families which is why I'm aware of it myself.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.
Jen
http://www.mommysjoy.com

Hi M.,
you are on the right track to have her see an OB - I don;t think it is normal for a young girl of her age to have such an irregular cycle- unless there is a medical reason -even tho she is overweight she could be anemic- anemia will cause heavy flooding and irregularity- I would have the ob check for that- but a really good OB will check for everything -
good luck
blessings

Lots of great advice, so I'll just add one thought. I've been learning recently that most of the personal care products that are used have ingredients that disrupt hormones. Many have ingredients linked to cancer. I didn't know this until recently, but everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. Check out www.discoverhealthyskin.com to learn more. Find out what kind of cosmetics and skincare products she uses and search for each product on www.safecosmetics.org to see how toxic they are. You can do this for all the products you use too.

could it be endometriosis(sp?)

Hi there...all this advice is good, but u do need to remember she is still considered a child...There are natural alternatives to doing the pill and weightloss meds/surgery(especially considering the side effects). I know of an herb-chasteberry extract (sometimes called Vitex) that helps regulate periods in people with PCOS(polycystic ovarian syndrome). My sis-in-law has PCOS and has used Vitex successfully. There's also others that regulate periods, but you need to make sure the herbs are safe for her since she isn't quite an adult yet (herbs have different affects on children sometimes). You can look in herb books, they usually say whether or not they are safe for kids or adults.
I hope your daughter does well.

As others have said, her weight is the most likely culprit. Some women loose their periods and some have them more frequently/heavier ect when they are obese. My periods have always been regular but that honestly really surprises me.

And yes, as a teen her cycles are still establishing themselves but I think her weight is the biggest factor. I would not put her on BC pills for a long time, but she might need them very short term just to get this under control while she looses weight.

I imagine if you tell her that her weight is causing this it might help get her motivated. Excess weight causes hormone problems and hormone problems causes excess weight- it's a vicious cycle. :(

Just a thought - maybe have them test her thyroid. I know that can affect your cycle..Terrible that she is already experiencing problems but great that you are taking her to get it checked out.

I had similar problems as a young girl. Long heavy periods, never regular. And for me the only thing that kept me regular was birth control. When I got older I started going off the b.c. I started going most of the year without my period. I was 180 at 16 and have continued having wieght problems. Back in 2004 after several thyroid tests that came back normal my ob diagnosed me with poly cystic ovary syndrome. I also have problems with chest hair, chin hair and general all over excessive body hair. So basically have her thyroid checked and it may take several times before the doc will diagnose her with PCOS if indeed that is what she has. Just do your research b4. My doc is a specialist in PCOS and even he said that docs don't diagnose this problem easily. Good luck and God bless.

When I was in high school a friend of mine went though a spell where she would have a period for 3 weeks and then off for a week. The docs ran every kind of test possible and found nothing really wrong. They did eventually find that she was anemic (surprise, surprise loosing blood like that). But, once they put her on iron pills it straightened up. Don't know if that was the cure, but it helped her.

It could be any number of things. Being overweight and having menstrual problems, I would first have her thyroid checked. Is she on a daily multivitamin? Maybe she has some sort of vitamin deficiency. I know having to go to an OB at such a young age can be very nerve wracking and scary. But, it is definitely the right direction to go. It's kind of like getting a shot when you're sick. You don't want it, but you know it is going to make you feel so much better, that it really is the best thing for you. Maybe you can find one that specializes in young girls and can help calm her nerves.