amenorrhea AFTER the pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
amenorrhea AFTER the pill
6
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 12:16am
Hi!

So last year I went on the Pill. It was desrogen. Then I hated it and switched to ortho novum. I decided to go off it during the summer seeing as I was switching schools and was going to need to start buying a new pill at my new school.

Then I didn't get my period after I stopped it in April. It's now October. During that time {8 months?] I lost about 15 lbs

I went to the doctor. She sent me for a pregnancy test, negative. I went in for a ultrasound of my lower abdomen...it was normal except for some fluid around my right ovary which she said coudl have been from ovulation or a cyst? So then she prescribed some hormones to try to kick my ovaries in to action...didn't work!

So now I'm just sitting here. Tomorrow I go in for some hormone level tests, and she said that I should start taking my new pill (OTC low). Is this a good idea? I mean, if I can't have a period right now, what happens when I want to get pregnant????

I don't know what is going on. I don't know if my doctor knows what she should be doing.

Thanks for your help!

Joanna

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 7:32am
That's why you're going for tests! ;) But she's scheduled the tests for before you start the pill, right?

Your doctor is covering the basic things that need to happen if you aren't having periods after this long. She needs to first check that there are no physical abnormalities, then check and see if you've got a hormone imbalance that is delaying ovulation. If you were ovulating but your hormones weren't dropping off at the end of the cycle to allow a period, the progestin pills should have helped with that. But if you're not ovulating, there might be no/little tissue growth in your uterus like there would be if you were ovulating.

So your doctor needs to check and see if your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (leutinizing hormone) and other hormone levels are normal or if one of them is elevated, which can throw off the whole mess.

If you had irregular periods before going on the pill, it's not likely that they would be any better after the pill. There might be a simple solution, or you may need to see another doctor. If you're not seeing an obgyn, that would be a great place to go if your current doctor can't come up with anything. Another option is a reproductive endocrinologist, they specialize in reproductive hormonal issues. If you wanted to get pregnant and were having this problem, the RE would be among your first choices for finding a solution.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 5:50pm
Hey thanks for posting!

My question is..if I'm not ovulating or getting my period right now, is going on the pill going to be just a "quick fix" or can it fix it permanently. If I got off the pill again, will I have the same problem? I want to be able to get my period on my own! Without the pill.

Thanks

Joanna

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 6:06pm
In some respects it is a quick fix. It won't cure your underlying problem. But you do need a period at least once every 3 months, and the pill can be very convenient for helping with that.

But once they figure out what is wrong, chances are they will be able to fix it. Like if you have pcos, metformin can help restore regular periods.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 9:40pm
So is it smart to go on the pill if you don't know what the problem is? If my doc hasn't found the underlying problem, then I dn't feel very comfortable masking it with the pill! I just want a regular period! . Thanks!

Joanna

ps what is pcos?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 11:33pm
It can be very helpful to get your blood tests done before going on the pill to get the most accurate results, but there are a couple of reasons your doctor might not want to wait. First, you haven't had a period in a long time and you need one. Second, many hormonal tests will have separate reference ranges for women on the pill, so there are still things they can do to figure out what is wrong. You really need to talk to your doctor about this. I assume she prescribed progesterone to induce a period? A possible next step would be to give you estrogen supplements, and then more progesterone to see if that works. Other hormonal tests may reveal why you aren't ovulating as well.

PCOS is polycystic ovarian syndrome. Very common.

Bottom line is you have to be your own advocate. Tell your doctor your treatment goals, which it sounds like include staying off the pill. It is possible in most circumstances.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 12:01pm
Thanks for all your help. I feel better now after getting another opinion! I'll post later when things get cleared up :)

Joanna