Ok I have a neighbor who is 14. Yes I know very young! I am like a mentor or big sister to her. Her family life stinks, mom is out of the picture. Dad is pretty much a dingbat. So this girl hasn't had a period since May 06.- It's now October. She told her Dad back in July she might be pregnant and he took her to a gynecologist they did a pee test and std test all that stuff. I've taken her to several crisis pregnancy centers, I've given her tests at my house yadda yadda every single test has come back negative. I'm baffeled I've always been so regular. Is this normal to miss a period for this amount of time or could she still be pregnant but the tests aren't picking it up? I've heard of where mother's and daughter's will pick up and be on the same monthly menstruation thing like they get it at the same time. She is very close to me and I don't get my period because I'm on the birthcontrol Depo Shot. Maybe this happening. I should mention she has had her period since she was 9 yrs.old and it has been off sometimes but never like this and she doesn't have any std's. Dad's making another appt. with the doctor too. In the mean time I'm just wondering what the heck is going on. I was wondering if she has convinced herself she's pregnant but really she's not I have no idea. I'm just trying to help but I'm lost.
Thanks to everyone's responses. She's about 5'6" and 200lbs. She's thick but doesn't look all that overweight. She's not annorexic or anything. She's not on birth control, I know for a fact she wants to be pregnant for attention because her parents don't give her any. I also know she really hasn't had a period in months either. She was molested at a young age and her home life sucks, otherwise she's not really stressed out. So I'll make sure and tell her she needs some blood work done. I know diabetes runs in her family too maybe that would do something.
being 14 ... is a very good reason she is not normal...
I first got my cycle when I was about that age and I would get it maybe every 4-5 months.
Has she directly told you she wants to be pregnant or is it an assumption? If she has directly told you I talk with her about the risks of having sex at such a young age, bringing her to crisis pregnancy centers can only get you so far.
I have no answers, but this is very interesting, please keep us all up to date on what you find out.
B.,
Along with health issues and weight concerns, stress can cause a period to be very irregular, as can illness. Plus, when I was 13-15, I only got my period two or three times a year. It was just the way it was cause I was so young. Just FYI, I am a counselor who works with teens(actually all ages) who have expereinced sexual violence. If it is something that she is interested in, it is free if she lives in Washington County, and within certain boundaries(She needs meds, she's suicidal,etc), her parents don't have to know(though we prefer if they do)###-###-#### reaches me directly) We also have a free 24/7 hotline, 1800-###-###-####. Feel free to pass it on. Hope she's healthy and all works out well.
ALSO, wanted to go back and add. If she is trying to get pregnant, she might refuse to go onthe pill. Doing some life skills, either with you or with a counselor might help that mentality!
I agree with the blood test thing ... I always thought that if a Preg. test was wrong it would only be wrong in the first few days since it looks for the preg hormone that may not be detected in the first few days. I have heard of people naturally having irregular periods (like maybe 2 or 3 a year). I would maybe do some research while waiting for her doctor visit (web MD????) and try to find another explanation. I will pray for her that it will not be something really serious!!!!
B.,
I would strongly recommend her having extensive blood testing. There are several reasons why one does not get their period.
1. being pregnant
2. obesity and anorexia and over exercising
3. ovarian cancer, endometrosis, fibroids, cysts
4. hormonal imbalances
When I tried to get pregnant after stopping birth control I did not get my period for 3 months. My doctor did a blood test and it came back that my prolactin level was over 130 (30 or lower is normal & 31 and above is a pregnancy level). I had to go on a medicine that lowered my prolactin level and it took about 3 months to finally get my period after being on medicine.
Good luck and keep us posted on how things are going for her.
Just a thought, its not unusual for a young girl to be irregular. One of the things to consider is her weight. If her percent of fat is low, she might not menustrate. Glad she has someone like you who can be stable in her life
I went over 9 months with out my period a bout 2 years ago. It was due to PCOS. It was after I had a weight gain and I had to lear to eat a little better. As the doctor explained to me, the eggs were trying to come out, but my ovaries were covered with a sugar like substance (kinda like an M & M) and the egg wasn't able to push through. Wierd I know, but I was trying to convieve at the time and we tried some diabetic medication and it worked. I wouldn't suggest the diabetic medication for your neighbor, becuase it was a fertility fix for me, but I just wanted you to know that it does happen sometimes and she may not be pregnant. But blood tests for hormones could tell if she has PCOS.
Thyroid deficiency could definitely cause this. My sister has a severe thyroid deficiency which was not caught until she was a teenager. She wouldn't get her period for 6 mo to a year. Unfortunately she would then get her period for months and it wouldn't stop. Once they got her medication correct (synthroid) I believe everything is back to normal. A lack of thryoid I believe can also cause someone to be overweight. Just a thought. In any case, a thorough medical exam should be done pregnant or not. Good luck.
Stress can be a HUGE factor in our cycles. You said she is having a rough time with her home life. That could very well stop her ovulating and then in turn stop her from getting her period. If she were pregnant she would know it by now and at least 1 of those tests would have come back positive. I think it is a good thing she go see the doctor. If there is a more serious reason involving hormones or something they can figure it out. She can also then get on birth control. I am sure dad won't be happy about it. But if she insists on having sex she needs to protect herself. Good luck! I hope I have been some help!
A.
Yikes- I'd take her in for a blood test, that should give you both a definite answer. Also, good for you for stepping in and giving this girl some guidance and sisterly/motherly love. I'm sure she'll benefit from it greatly now and in the long run as well. Good job.
Well this sounds alot like me... I could go 6 months without then have a period then go 4 months with out...this was from the age 13-21 Birthcontrol is what got me monthly. I went to the dr a bunch too... but all we could figure is that I really didn't take care of myself...like I would play in sports for a few months and not have a period then sit and do nothing for a month and have a period then summer came and I ate less and played alot and didn't have one then school started and I'd get it then play sports again and not have it again until spring.
So yes have some tests done but also make sure she is eating and excercising appropriately to make sure she is doing all she can do to give her body some regularity.
What a great mentor you are! I wish I had that when I was 14. As far as the preg tests go, if she's had 2 negatives, she's probably not pregnant. The only thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned is her body type. Is she athletic or thin? I know that women who are extremely athletic or slight will stop menstruating. An eating disorder will do this too. I guess it's some inborn thing we have that protects us and any future babies if our body fat gets too low so we don't get pregnant. Any number of things could be causing this however. A full gynecological exam is necessary to rule out anything more serious. Good luck and God bless.
C.
It is common to have a negative pregnancy test and be pregnant. They should do a blood test. This happened to my cousin and I used to work at Regions Hospital in St. Paul on the inpatient peds unit and have seen this before. She also could have some thyroid problem...obesity also may contribute to irregular menses. Is she on any birth control right now? Stress can play heavily on your hormones as well. She very well could be pregnant. False negatives are common. False positives are uncommon.
A little about me: SAHM of 2 girls. 4 years and 15 months. I am also an R.N., B.S.N. No longer in practice.
My sister from the time she was sixteen and even still now stopped haveing her period. I don't know why she just doesn't she had to go on the pill just to get it. I would say that if the doctor said she's not pregnant then she's more than likely not.
My vote is a Thyroid issue...seeing as she is depressed, overweight and having irregularities in her cycle...all 3 are at the top of the list for Hypothyroidism. Have her MD check for this at that upcoming appt. It is a simple blood test. One good thing with this disease is it usually cause infertility until treated. But once treatment is started....birth control is a MUST!!! Often times pregnancy is close to follow without it. So if this is her problem...she most likely is NOT pregnant. Hope all goes well and I commend you on your stepping forward as a role model for this trouble young lady. Good Luck!
I know of a couple reasons. 1) if she has an eating disorder 2) if she has any cysts on her ovaries 3) if she is depressed
4) get her on birth control, to help get the hormones flowing.
What body type is this young girl? I ask because I am naturally very thin, and for most of my teen years recieved a period every couple of months. I was always so greatful that I was not sexually active till later because I would have spent my high school years believing I was pregnant. I would suggest a blood test just to rule out any medical problems but I could be just the way her body works and birth control pills could help to regulate her. I wish you and her the best of luck.
B.,
It’s hard to say what is going on for sure but if she were pregnant the test would have been positive there very sensitive to the pregnancy hormone. I myself had a very irregular period, going 5 months with out one so it is possible that’s what’s going on the doctor’s visit is a good idea.
It sounds like this little girl could benefit from seeing a councilor. Being sexually active at 14 is not a great thing and she might be doing it to fill a void, (lack of love or feeling wanted?) Thank god you are there for her to come to but it still sounds like she’s in need of some help from someone she doesn’t look at as a friend or could possibly tell her dad what she’s feeling. Maybe because she has trust in you; you could mention it and see what she thinks of it.
I could be way off base but it was a thought.
Good luck,
T.
