Period finally after a year.

[asailorswife]

My periods have always been very off. I've been to the doctor, so no worries. All is well, and this tends to run in the family.

But I'm on here to see if anyone else has struggled with this as well. Today, I got my period for the first time in 13 months. If so, what have you done, etc.?

Thanks in advance, an I look forward to posting here more often!

[asailorswife]

thanks for all the concern! :)

[specialmom]

Well, I'm wondering if your hormones are functioning properly and you probably don't have pms much at all.  That's not a bad thing (especially if you don't desire children).  When I get pms, I feel it dramatically.  I crave certain foods, I'm edgier, I bloat a little.  All very typical for pms.  And I'd start on week three after a period and have that the whole way until three months later until I menstruated.  YUCK!  Hated that.  Glad I regulated and now only have maybe 5 days of it every 30.  

Glad you don't have PMS.  :)

[asailorswife]

you know, it's sort of funny that you ask that - because i have been told by several people along the way that i'm one of the most happiest people that apparently has PMS all the time, for not having a period but possibly once a year. HAHA! so, i have no idea how long i PMS, i feel fine all the time. :)

[specialmom]

Well, if you don't want kids, then no matter about the ovulation.  So, that is on the plus side, right?  

One releases an egg/ovulates and will have a period afterwards as part of the natural process unless they are pregnant.  There is a biological process the body follows upon ovulation.  

so, I guess your chalenge will be to moniter things so that you 'don't' get pregnant since it will be hard to tell when you ovulate.  Most women can keep track of their cycle and know what unsafe days would be most likely but with a once a year period, you'll have to use protection as you won't know when ovulation is happening (or when you'll get your next period).  

If you google, you'll see that a lot of women in your situation do tend to manipulate their bodies via hormones to have a period once every three months at minimum.  There is some theory about the body needing to expel that uterine lining on a regular basis.  (If you ovulate, your hormones build up the lining of your uterus to accomodate pregnancy, if you don't get pregnant with that cycle, the hormones will 'clean it out'.).  that's between you and your doctor though and I'm sure your doctor is doing what is best for you.  

How much pms do you have?  do you have it for long?  I had it for a LONG time when I had periods every three months due to a slow thyroid.  That was pretty miserable.  PMS for an extended period of time is no fun.  

[asailorswife]

i'm not a medical professional, and i know nobody on this site is either [other than the actual MDs and what not] but i was told by a couple of doctors that you can still very much ovulate without having a period. but then again, who knows - maybe i could be wrong? i'm only going on what i have been told by a medical professional.

with that being said, i don't know how to answer your other questions as to how anyone in my family has conceived. my husband is in the military, and i do not want children, as he does not either. not while in this career with moving around all the time and him never being home due to deployments and such.

[specialmom]

How do the women in your family  conceive?  That would be hard without periods (as one wouldn't ovulate without a period).  That will be something to talk to your doctor about.  

many doctors induce a regular menstrual cycle when a woman isn't having one.  

I guess there are benefits in not menstruating, however, it is an indicator that my body is doing what it is suppose to and there is some comfort in that.  That would be my worry-----  why don't I ovulate or have periods.  I hear that you are saying it runs in your family but they've never determined a cause of it for anyone?  

[asailorswife]

thanks so much for the response. i was begining to think nobody was going to reach out and say anything, haha!

yes, my doctors have told me that this is normal, because it runs in my family so much. of course, they have run tests, etc. as well as paps and what not. so i trust that there isn't anything going on. i have four girl cousins, of which three of them go through the same thing as well. the women in my family are very lucky -- but when that "time comes" we are not so lucky because it's like heck on earth, if you know what i mean.

i would have to ask my old PCP regarding whether or not they checked my thyroid, but i believe [not 100% sure though] that they have.

[specialmom]

Hi there and welcome.  Hm, they say this is okay that you don't have a period but once a year?  Have they suggested anything like birth control pills to get it going more regularly?  What happens if you are trying to conceive (which maybe that isn't something you want?)?

I had an issue with my thyroid in which my periods were about every 3 months and it was difficult because I had pms for long period of time leading up to it.  I was so thankful when I finally got it.  

Have you had your thyroid checked, are you underweight, abnormal shaped uterus, polycystic ovaries, ?  Are you under 25 years old?

Anyway, I'd consider the hormones to cause you to menstrate and I'd also be wondering about down the road regarding pregnancy.  Hard to do if you only menstruate sporadically once a year or so.  good luck dear