need advice!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2004
need advice!
3
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 4:13am
I'm not really good at these things but I need help so here it goes...I'm 21 years old and I dont have regular periods at all. I started when I was 14 or so and now I get them maybe once or twice a year, if that, and when they do come they are very very light. I know this cant be good,but I get really embarassed at even the thought of going to the doctor about it. But I know I have to now because I want to get on some sort of birth control now that I'm settling into a relationship with someone. I'm over weight and read that it will cause weight gain and that has me worried and also the fact that I smoke. I dont really know what my options are here can anyone help me out? do you have to go through the whole exam to get birth control?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 6:52am
Welcome to the board! Regardless of whether you're intending to start taking birth control pills, you really ought to make that appointment with your doctor. Women are supposed to be having annual pap smears and pelvic exams starting at the age of 18 or when they become sexually active. The fact that you already aren't having regular periods just compounds the importance of starting to take charge of your reproductive health! Don't feel bad--I was 21 before I had my first pelvic exam too.

Sometimes women who are overweight will have irregular periods because of the body's response to the extra weight. Sometimes there are other issues lurking that won't be apparent without some attention from a gynecologist. Getting on the pill won't solve your irregular period problem, but you will have regular monthly bleeding intervals because of how the pill is taken. Why you're not ovulating more often than twice a year, if you're ovulating, will still be a mystery unless you get it checked out.

But as far as the pill goes, it doesn't always cause weight gain. Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn't, usually weight gain is caused by either water retention, increased appetite, or on more rare occasions it can change how a woman metabolizes carbohydrates. And smoking is bad for you any way you look at it, but particularly if you want to use birth control containing estrogen. Women who smoke at any age are at a notably higher risk of developing blood clots when they take estrogen-containing birth control.

If we can help talk you through getting the exam, let us know! The Gynecology Board has a link to what to expect at your first, or some of us can share our personal experiences. The first exam is the worst because you don't know what to expect, but after a few of them you get to be a pro really quickly. They're never fun, but not what I'd characterize as bad.

Good luck!

Judie
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 7:16am
As Judie said a pelvic isn't a fun thing but it's over quickly and not all that bad. Ask your doctor to explain what s/he is doing as the exam progresses and it will be over in no time at all. Here’s a link to information about pelvic exams: http://www.ivillage.com/topics/health/0,,166041,00.html Let us know how you’re, doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 10:44am

Just wanted to encourage you to tell your doctor.


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