Question For Women

[Deleted member 1860]

Thanks Anthony & Nicolette.

I have never been stressed out about not being "normal." So I get my period four times a year instead of every month. Life is good, I don't have to worry about PMS as often, I don't have to worry about my period as often, yadda yadda yadda.

What DOES stress me out are doctors who say "oh, you're not having a monthly cycle? Go on this pill and it will fix everything." WRONG. Having to worry about the side effects of medication, the long term effects, etc, is what stresses me out. And dealing with doctors who don't LISTEN to me and my symptoms, but rather give me some sort of trashcan diagnosis after seeing me ONCE. UGH.

 

[allitherapy]

Hi ScaredOfLonely,
I am not a doctor, but I am in medical school (and actually want to become an OBGYN). There are a few concerns I have here...
If I read correctly, you said you've never had a regular, monthly cycle. While stress and trauma are both huge factors in causing irregular cycles, it is worrisome that you've never had a typical monthly cycle. If this is due strictly to stress/trauma, then I truly hope you are able to work in therapy to better regulate your emotions and hopefully your body will follow. I know - easier said than done.
Regarding the PCOS diagnosis - your ultrasound can be negative for cysts even if you do have PCOS. It is normal for women to have cysts at certain times throughout the menstrual cycle, but PCOS is characterized by an abnormal amount and type of cysts. These cysts, however, are not always present, and do follow your normal menstrual cycle. Since your cycle is not medically "normal" your pattern of cysts may not be either. You could have cysts one week and none the next. The blood work is usually the more definitive aspect of diagnosing PCOS, which you also said was negative, but I'd be interested in knowing what they actually tested you for. Do you have any other symptoms of PCOS, aside from weight gain? Because you've never really been regular, I wouldn't rule out PCOS as a cause unless you've been tested on multiple occassions.
As for going on birth control pills, that is entirely your decision and not one that a physician should force upon you. If you want your cycle to be regulated, the pills would have that effect, regardless of any stress you are experiencing. If your irregular cycle is an added source of stress, it may be beneficial to go on the pill to reduce your overall stress. My concern for you is that it is not healthy to go your entire adult life not having a regular cycle. I'm not sure how old you are, but build up of the uterine lining (endometrium) can lead to problems later on down the road.
I think the most important thing for you to do is identify the cause of your irregularity and than go from there.
Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about this further.
Take care,
Alli

 

[allitherapy]

I forgot to add my own personal experience...
I had very irregular periods as a teenager. I would bleed for 2 weeks, then not again for a few months or bleed for 2 days and then again a couple weeks later and then not again for months. I went on BC about 5 years ago and was on it for 4 years. I had no problems on the pill and it actually helped stabilize my mood. I went off it for about a year and my cycle was relatively normal. I just went back on it a few months ago because I was having horrible cramping and PMS. I'm back on it and thankfully those issues have resolved.
I hope you are able to make a decision that works best for both your physical and emotional health.

 

[anthony]

What DOES stress me out are doctors who say "oh, you're not having a monthly cycle? Go on this pill and it will fix everything." WRONG.

Then I would tell the doctors to bite themselves... if you get it less, and its not physically affecting you or has any long term effects that I am not aware off within women... then why they hell would you want to put yourself through that... I'm with you if there is no real benefit to a monthly menstrual cycle... the pill screws with women, I know that from obviously being with women and watching the ranging effects it has had across past relationships.

It screws with Nicolette... and now she is off all of them as I got the snip to save her having to be on them, as we don't want kids together.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Then I would tell the doctors to bite themselves... if you get it less, and its not physically affecting you or has any long term effects that I am not aware off within women... then why they hell would you want to put yourself through that... I'm with you if there is no real benefit to a monthly menstrual cycle... the pill screws with women, I know that from obviously being with women and watching the ranging effects it has had across past relationships.

Yes, this is exactly what I plan on doing. NO MORE PILLS!

Hi ScaredOfLonely,
If I read correctly, you said you've never had a regular, monthly cycle. While stress and trauma are both huge factors in causing irregular cycles, it is worrisome that you've never had a typical monthly cycle. If this is due strictly to stress/trauma, then I truly hope you are able to work in therapy to better regulate your emotions and hopefully your body will follow. I know - easier said than done.

I said it wasn't MONTHLY, not that it wasn't "regular". At this point I have no hope for therapy making my cycle monthly (a big LOL there!) I have CPTSD due to CHILDHOOD trauma, so my whole life has been one big ball of stress.

As for going on birth control pills, that is entirely your decision and not one that a physician should force upon you. If you want your cycle to be regulated, the pills would have that effect, regardless of any stress you are experiencing. If your irregular cycle is an added source of stress, it may be beneficial to go on the pill to reduce your overall stress. My concern for you is that it is not healthy to go your entire adult life not having a regular cycle. I'm not sure how old you are, but build up of the uterine lining (endometrium) can lead to problems later on down the road.
I think the most important thing for you to do is identify the cause of your irregularity and than go from there.

Honestly, I get my period four times a year, and that's the minimum that you need in order to avoid cancer issues down the road. I think its a bunch of crap to say "here are some pills that will give you a FAKE period, and yes, we know that they may increase your chances of cancer, and yes, we know that they can increase your anxiety, blah blah blah blah blah, but in the end, you need to be on birth control because you don't fit within what XYZ medical textbook says you should" BLAH!

AND I counter with if only getting my period four times a year is soooo bad, then WHY are there birth control pills which are designed to give a woman her period only four times a year? So yes, its medically induced... We have pills that make women get their period less, but if you aren't regular to begin with, we want you to get your period MORE?

Regarding the PCOS diagnosis - your ultrasound can be negative for cysts even if you do have PCOS. It is normal for women to have cysts at certain times throughout the menstrual cycle, but PCOS is characterized by an abnormal amount and type of cysts. These cysts, however, are not always present, and do follow your normal menstrual cycle. Since your cycle is not medically "normal" your pattern of cysts may not be either. You could have cysts one week and none the next. The blood work is usually the more definitive aspect of diagnosing PCOS, which you also said was negative, but I'd be interested in knowing what they actually tested you for. Do you have any other symptoms of PCOS, aside from weight gain? Because you've never really been regular, I wouldn't rule out PCOS as a cause unless you've been tested on multiple occassions.

Yes, PCOS cysts are different, but I believe you are incorrect when you say they come and go. IF that were the case, there wouldn't be medical procedures to remove the cysts. Doctors would just wait for them to go away. I don't have the "pearl" cysts which ARE typical of PCOS and do NOT just "go away" on their own. (Actually, I don't have any cysts...)

IMHO it is just a trash can diagnosis. Oh, you're not text book regular and we don't feel like taking the time to figure out what is wrong with you? It must be PCOS. Sorry, but that's the attitude that I've gotten from more than one doctor.

 

[allitherapy]

Wow, I was just trying to help. I wasn't expecting such a response.
Actually there is a huge difference between taking a pill that gives you a period 4 times a year and naturally only having a period 4 times a year. Being on the pill makes it so your uterine lining only builds up to a very small degree, which is why it is ok to have a period 4 times a year. If your body is naturally only expelling the endometrium 4 times a year, it IS dangerous. You may not be sloughing off all of the endometrium with just 4 periods a year and this becomes very serious with increased age, especially after menopause.
As for the cysts, they DO come and go. The only cysts that need to be removed are the ones that become too large and cause pain.
PCOS is not a "trash can" diagnosis. My best friend has it and was very lucky that her doctor suggested she be tested for it early on, as she has been able to reverse and treat some of it's effects. The reason why your doctors have immediately thought to test you for PCOS after you tell them about your periods isn't because they don't care, it's because they are good doctors and know that the hallmark of PCOS is regularly missing periods, which is exactly what you describe. If you DID have PCOS, you'd be very thankful that your doctors suggested it.
It is never "regular" to have a period that comes so infrequently. Yes, you regularly get a period 4 times a year, but that doen't make it normal or healthy. You are likely not ovulating and have a hormonal imbalance. The reason why doctor's suggest the birth control pill is that it can help balance your hormones. Some people go on the pill for a short time and when they come off of it, their periods become normal naturally. You said you're not interested in this, so it's a non-issue.
I care about everyone on this forum and was only looking out for your health. Apparently, you didn't like what I had to say, but that's ok. Good luck to you.

 

[Nicolette]

Yes, PCOS cysts are different, but I believe you are incorrect when you say they come and go. IF that were the case, there wouldn't be medical procedures to remove the cysts. Doctors would just wait for them to go away. I don't have the "pearl" cysts which ARE typical of PCOS and do NOT just "go away" on their own. (Actually, I don't have any cysts...).

While a little off topic, but still women related, I feel the need to back up allitherapy based on what I learned today. I had to go to the doctor's today and Anthony said aren't I at the age where I should start having mammograms (30 is not that old is it? ;)) whereas I thought you started having them after 50. The doctor explained to me that before the age of 50 a lot of women have lumps and cysts in their breasts which actually come and go and would result in a lot of unnecessary surgery and investigation due to them not being of any real medical concern but can be identified if tested.

I also know first hand of women who have had cysts down there and they have disappeared on their own.

Based on my experience of having endometriosis, I believe it is of concern if you are not shedding all your lining regularly as it can build up and lead to endometriosis as it actually then grows causing internal webbing of the endometrium. I also know of someone who ended up with being mis-diagnosed and ended up with a hystertomy and endometriosis in the bowel due to her infrequent periods not being taken seriously - she has CPTSD so lets not start using that as an excuse. I know of another woman who ended up with it in her lungs.

My doctor errs of the side of, if in doubt, check it out. I love that about him rather than having an attitude of "it's outside the spectrum of normal but you're not concerned then I won't be".

SOL, I personally get the impression your issue is more about taking pills than anything else. Could be wrong. If that is the case, why not request a laparoscopy so they can confirm your lining is not building up too much etc then I would then back you up 100% with not taking the pill. My doctor wants me to take the pill to try and keep the endometriosis at bay. If my endometriosis has come back I want it treated and not mask it with the pill. I now wear the consequences.

If you are not happy with a doctor's opinion seek other opinions and what harm is done having a test which confirms nothing is wrong. I have never heard that 4 periods a year can confirm you won't end up with cancer. That is not saying that what you said is wrong - just never heard it.

As for you pill issue about how many times a year periods occur, I still hold the view that even that can vary depending on the woman. I took a means of contraceptive and didn't bleed the entire time on it then had an anaphylatic reaction to it. I took another and bled 3 days out of every week. I took the pill and after different types I found one which was reasonable and my cycles were regular. I have gone off the pill and now my cycle is around 21 days - 25 if lucky with bleeding for 10 days when I used to bleed for 5. So, what works for you and suits you may be different for others. I suggest having an open mind, doing research and gathering opinions.

It seems to me you are now arguing why you shouldn't take the pill when others are just sharing the information and knowledge they have. They are not forcing you to do anything - you asked for opinions and you are getting them. I think you were a little harsh in your response to allitherapy. Please don't take out your anger towards doctors on members who are genuinely trying to offer some thoughts for you to consider.

 

[blueangel371115]

Ok, dumb question, but if someone is irregular due to stress, is there any medical need to put them on hormone therapy (i.e. birth control pills) to make them "normal"?

It seems that this would be counter productive in that they are "fixing" a symptom and not the cause.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this issue!

Thanks,
SOL

that's what they did for me. I've taken several types. No one can figure out exactly. One says I have PCOS, the next says no. It's frustrating. I've been dealing with this since I was 14. And all they want to do is shift drugs I'm on or blame some other drug I'm on.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

WOOT! I explained the situation to my doctor. She said that as long as I am getting my period once every three months/four times a year, I am FINE. Oh, and that I should ENJOY it! She also said that since another doctor did all those tests on me and said no PCOS, then she isn't going to doubt their findings. She fully understands why I do NOT want to be on hormonal birth control since I am attempting to stabilize off of medication and do not want to risk that something hormonal will mess me up, so I am trying to get an IUD instead. Dealing with that initial pain will be worth it if I don't have to deal with hormones!

 

[deer_in_headlights]

Hi SOL,

Just a note: IUDs can stink... I had one, but it caused too much pain, and began a pelvic infection that has been a bear to eradicate. I needed to have it removed. "Results may vary" :)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

So anyway, I've been gone for a while but thought I'd come back and give an update. Still no Pcos, but now I'm textbook regular WITHOUT the use of drugs. I attribute it to neurotherapy as my period regulated one month after starting neurotherapy. Anyway, I am glad I didn't listen to everyone who said I had Pcos. Again, IMHO it's complete bs to be able to pin an ENTIRE syndrome on someone based on one symptom, that being irregular periods. That's like saying everyone who has stomache aches has IBS. Melarkey I tell ya!

It just goes to show, follow your gut.

And for those of you who don't know, neurotherapy works by regulating your brain waves, so it stands to reason that its regulating effects can be system wide.

 

[vetrainn]

One thing that has help control my otherwise irregular periods is the IUD I have. Minera (or how ever you spell it) has all but eliminated my period. If I decide that I want it removed my period would start back and I would be able to have children again. It's almost as effective as having a hystorctomy (sp) but not nearly as invasive.