Hi Dr. Ramirez,
I am a 29 yr old healthy female with two daughters, ages 13 & 12. Me and my husband conceived with no problem. I was 16 when we had our first daughter. I started having irregular menstrual cycles when my youngest was 2. We tried to get pregnant again and haven't been able to since then. I have not had a cycle in about 6-7 yrs.
I went to the doctor a few years back, they did blood work, exams, internal ultrasounds and they put me on birth control and hormones, but no period came. I have since stopped going to the doctor and am not taking anything. I am highly concerned on how this is affecting my health. Hoping for your advice.
Thank you, N. from the U.S.
Answer:
Hello N. from the U.S.,
It is highly unusual for you not to have at least one period per year in your age group. I would be worried that you might have a severe ovarian dysfunction like premature ovarian failure (POF or early menopause) or some other hormonal problem with your thyroid or pituitary. You need to undergo an evaluation to find out what is going on.
The problem with not having a period is that you are not producing estrogen. Estrogen is a vital hormone for a woman's body. It impacts many different areas like your bones, skin, heart, brain, vagina. Women who undergo menopause, where they are no longer producing estrogen, have an increased incidence of heart disease, osteoporosis as well as: bone loss, decreased concentration, decreased memory, thinning of the skin, thinning of the hair, vaginal shrinkage and dryness, skin dryness and wrinkling, and accelerated aging. It is one of the most vital hormones in your body. So, if your ovaries are not working and not producing estrogen, or very little estrogen, then you need to go on hormone replacement with something like a birth control pill. If you are interested in getting pregnant, and your ovaries are not menopausal, then you need to take fertility medications to induce your ovaries to ovulate produce and give off an egg.
The bottom line is that you cannot continue like this because it is harmful to your health. You want to stay young for your children and husband, so please go see a Gynecologist as soon as you can.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
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