Menstrual periods...very odd

[butterflyprincess23]

This may seem complicated but I haven't found any answers anywhere.  I posted in another section but noticed this is a doctor's forum so thought maybe a doctor would have more knowledge.

I'm 23 and married and happy for the most part.  My husband and I have been sexually active with each other since Sept. 2007 and we married in the summer of 2008.  We only used condoms a handful of times and some of the time we didn't bother with him pulling out.  We weren't trying to get pregnant but we weren't trying not to (if that makes sense).  Anyways we've been using the pulling out method for a while now because we don't want a baby just yet(pulling out method may not be 100% but we do it correctly every time ..no lecture needed on that :P thanks).  

Anyways I first got my period when I was 11/12.  It was very irregular and I never really kept track of it.  I didn't have a need to (not sexually active or anything).  It would come and then not come for a month...sometimes come two months in a row.  It was very very irregular.  I have kept track of my period from 2007 til now and this is how it goes.  0=no period and #=period.  

2007:  January  0, February 0, March #, April 0, May #, June 0, July #, August 0, September #, October 0, November 0, December 0.  

2008:  January #, February 0, March 0, April #, May 0, June 0, July #, August 0, September #, October had a little spotting for maybe 2 days but no period, November spotting that lasted a few weeks...very very light pink, December spotting continued into December from November but only a little bit...no period.  

2009:  January 0, February 0, March 0, April ...just started this month so no idea yet.  

So yeah my cycle is completely screwed up.  I have thought I have POCS but we don't have insurance yet so waiting until we do so I can see a doctor(even though I dislike going to doctors lol).  Anyways I was just hoping someone could help me ...give me an idea of why this is going on.  Thanks

[MissyC607]

Hi,

I agree with the doctor. I have PCOS and my period was pretty crazy like that from the time i first start it at 13yrs old. Like you, I didn't care about it because i wasn't having intercourse. At 15yrs old a doctor told me i had it, but i still didn't care about it. I was very shy when i was younger didn't want to think about babies eather. Anyway, i am 28yrs old now. And now i care,haha. I am married, we have been trying to have a baby, missed carried 2008.

Trying again,my doctor gave me metformin and progestrone (oral) to concieve. I recommend that you speak with a clinic or something,I think the sooner the better! It will save you stress and time.
I
f you can't afford the progestrone cream, the Whole Food/Natural Organic stores carry natural progestrone as a cream. It basically works the same, it takes much longer, about 6months.(That's one reason why my doctor gave me oral, she thought it was better). Anyway, clomid is also good. But i think doctors only recommend it after you've been trying for at least 6mths-1yr when youhave PCOS.

(Dr.B if i messed up on any info. please feel free to correct what i've said, i don't want to misinform anyone, i am not a professional Dr. just my own personal experience lol).

Hope this help!

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
You almost certainly do have PCOS.  I always like to check a TSH and prolactin level on my patients to be sure that there is not another simple reason.
You may want to check out this site:
http://www.hormone.org/Polycystic/treatment.cfm

I usually like to make sure that my patients have at least 4 periods per year to prevent a build up of the lining of the uterus. Two ways to do that if you are not "trying" are:
oral contraceptive pills, or progesterone therapy. Neither one is particularly pricey, but progesterone might be cheaper and easier in your circumstance.

One medication that is particularly good for PCOS patients is Metformin.  When and if you do want to conceive, I like to use that +/- Femara to help my PCOS patients ovulate. Which is something you are going to need to do to get pregnant.  If you are interested, you might want to check out my blog article on the menstrual cycle (this site).

Good luck!
Dr B