Missing periods: What's your experience?

Sandra Turner71 said:Thanks so much for all the advice. 🙂🙂

I’m really hoping I can finally track down a doctor who actually knows how to help me this time.
One thing that’s eating at me—is there a higher risk of developing something malignant later on because of all this? 😢 Honestly, I start breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about these issues... it’s a terrifying feeling. Why is this even happening to me? My mom had perfectly regular cycles, and every single woman in my family has too. It makes absolutely zero sense to me. :/ I’ve always been on the thinner side, but I was never anorexic or anything like that—heaven forbid, I actually love to eat! haha 🙂 But I haven't exactly been able to put on weight either... which is its own struggle, because I’ve actually wanted to gain a little more. I thought maybe my condition was tied to that...
I just have to figure this out and somehow push through this health nightmare. 🙂

Sophia Wells72 explained everything perfectly, but if I could just add a quick list of the specific tests you should ask for, just so you know what to look for:
1. Thyroid panel—T3, T4, and TSH.
2. Hormonal panel—LH, FSH, E2, testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, DHEA-S, and cortisol.

Sandra Turner71 said:Hi! I'm new to this forum, and honestly, I created this account just because of my own situation—I feel like I'm at a total loss. I haven't scrolled through all the other posts yet because I really don't have the time to dig through 200 pages to find what I need, so please forgive me... though I suspect no one else here is dealing with my exact circumstances. To get straight to the point... I noticed there are doctors on here giving advice, so I am sincerely hoping they might be able to help me. Here’s the deal:
I'm 21 years old, 5'4", and weigh about 107 lbs...I have never had my period. 😢 At first, I just assumed it would happen later, but the delay kept stretching out and I didn't go to the doctor. I know you'll probably scold me for waiting so long, but what can I say? I grew up without a mom, and it was just really hard for me to talk to anyone about this. Earlier this year, I finally saw a gynecologist for an exam. I should have mentioned that I'm a virgin (maybe mostly because of this issue, which makes me anxious about intimacy... and I'd actually love to know if it's even okay for me to have sex)... anyway, the gynecologist couldn't do much. She said everything looked fine externally and thought she saw my uterus and ovaries on the ultrasound, but she wasn't certain since I showed up unprepared (I hadn't been drinking enough water) because nobody told me to. In any case, I was referred to an endocrinologist who didn't really do anything besides run $67 to tell me the exact same thing the first doctor did.

I'm terrified because I know there are so many possibilities—diseases, even cancer... or that I might end up being infertile... or even that part of me is male 😕 due to some kind of hormonal imbalance... My hair growth is normal; I'm not more hairy than anyone else, quite the opposite, actually. My underarm and pubic hair is totally standard, and my arms aren't hairy at all, just those tiny white hairs you can barely see. I don't have facial hair either. But I did notice this year that my hair is thinning significantly, and I have no idea why... PLEASE, IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME! This is incredibly frustrating and I can't find any peace. Also, I don't have health insurance (and I can't exactly get it, please don't ask why... it's a sad story)... I'm at my wit's end. I'm currently a college student, and with my course load, I can't just spend all day running to various clinics... I can't be dragging myself from office to office when I have mandatory lectures to attend. I'm torn because I know my health should come first, but I'm not in a financial position to choose between my studies and medical care. I'm scared and I just want to know exactly what I need to do to figure out what's happening. I know the condition is called primary amenorrhea, but I have no idea what the actual cause is for me 😢. My biggest fears are still life-threatening illnesses and the idea that I might somehow be male 😕😕😕 PLEASE HELP ME!

Dear,

reading your story, I felt like I was reliving my own experience. I'm seven years older than you, and back then—due to school commitments (though looking back, I regret prioritizing that over my health) and sheer fear—I neglected my own wellbeing. I was also diagnosed with primary amenorrhea. My thyroid is fine, and my pituitary gland is too, thank Bog, but the diagnosis was premature ovarian failure. Which means I'm in early menopause. I carry a lot of pain inside because there's a high chance I won't be able to have children, at least not naturally. But, I'm not giving up!
My OB-GYN put me on Trisequens to regulate my cycle—basically, if I don't take the pills, my period just doesn't happen. 😢 Honestly, I’m right there with you in feeling totally confused by this whole situation, especially since the doctors just handed us a diagnosis and called it a day without much explanation! If I were you, I’d insist on getting a full hormone panel done (your doctor can suggest which ones to check), see an endocrinologist, and maybe even get an MRI of the pituitary gland just to be safe.
Best of luck!!!!
I’d really love to stay in touch—it feels like we might be dealing with the exact same thing.

Robert Alvarez87 said:Honey,

reading your story felt like I was reliving my own nightmare. I’m seven years older than you, but between crushing university deadlines (looking back, I seriously regret prioritizing those over my health) and just plain old anxiety, I completely neglected myself. I’ve been diagnosed with primary amenorrhea. My thyroid is fine, and my pituitary gland is okay too (thank Bog), but the diagnosis is premature ovarian failure. Basically, I'm in early menopause. It hurts deep down because there’s a huge chance I won't be able to have kids—at least not naturally. But I am not giving up!
My gynecologist put me on Trisequens to get my cycle going, but without those pills, nothing happens. 😢 Just like you, I’m totally lost in all this, especially since the doctors just dropped the diagnosis on me and called it a day. Please, do yourself a favor: insist on full hormone testing (your doctor should tell you which ones), see an endocrinologist, and get an MRI of your pituitary gland.
Good luck!!!!
I’d love to stay in touch since we might be fighting the exact same battle.

It’s honestly depressing how much I let things slide... I should have seen a doctor ages ago to fix this. The only thing my endocrinologist suggested was checking into a hospital so they could run all the tests at once... apparently, doing them separately is way too expensive. And can you imagine the medical bills without insurance? 😢 I definitely can't afford that, and my university isn't exactly helping with my situation either... though I guess I'll find a way to deal with them eventually. I'm wondering if all those tests were incredibly pricey? I need to know so I can try to budget for the costs somehow. 😢
...Of course I want to stay in touch with someone who’s actually walked this path... I'm going to need advice and support. 😢 Thank you so much for reaching out. 🙂))

And also, thank you to the doctor for listing the specific tests I need to get done... 🙂 I am truly, truly grateful for that! 😉

I’m not entirely sure which part of the country you’re in, but I remember once going to a private clinic to get my entire hormone panel, thyroid levels, and a full blood count checked—and the bill was enough to make me cry $167. On top of all those labs, you still have to factor in an ultrasound ($67), and since you'll likely need to see an endocrinologist—and perhaps even a few specialists after that—it could end up being quite a bit more expensive than you expect
. Basically, my advice is to get your health sorted out as soon as possible and head straight to the hospital to get those tests done. That’s probably your best bet
.
As for college, you’ll be able to get a medical excuse for your absences, so you shouldn't have any trouble with your professors or the administration. Just focus on getting your health handled first 🙂

Sophia Wells72 said:I don't know where you're located, but I once went to a private specialist and had them run everything—all my hormones, thyroid, full blood panel—and it cost me about a grand $167. On top of that, you've got ultrasounds ($67), and you'll probably need an endocrinologist too, maybe even more follow-ups, so it could honestly get way more expensive.
Bottom line: just get your health sorted out ASAP and head to the hospital to get those tests done. That’s probably your best bet.

As for college, you'll get a medical excuse for your absences, so you won't have any trouble there. Just focus on fixing the health stuff first. 🙂

Great, just wonderful. 😢 Given my current bank account balance, this is going to be absolutely lovely to pay for. But hey, I guess I'll just have to figure it out... I don't really have a choice... I have to get this sorted. At least with your help, I finally know which specific tests the doctors should be running... thanks so much, everyone. Now I just have to figure out how and what to do next... As for school... at my university, they are incredibly strict about attendance. You can't miss more than three classes a semester or you don't get credit... and for some subjects, you're only allowed one absence, period. It's brutal. I actually froze my enrollment because 🙂😠 sometimes I feel like I'm in prison rather than at a university... you have to do everything they tell you and you aren't even allowed to miss class when you're sick. For example, if you have the flu and it totally wipes you out, you still have to show up to lectures because you never know when something worse might hit 🙂.....I'm going to try to go see a local OBGYN near my house and see what he thinks I need. Since he's a man, it feels a little awkward, but whatever 🙄... he's the only private doctor available, and I don't want to rush straight to a major hospital right away, especially since people here love to gossip about what you're suffering from... it's awful 🙂

Don't bother paying out of pocket—you can just get your health insurance sorted out instead. Honestly, if you can spare just a few minutes a day to deal with the paperwork, it’s worth it. Just head down to the local clinic or the social security office, ask them exactly what documentation you need to provide, gather everything, finish the filing, and you're all set. I believe vividsailor7 already laid out which tests you actually need to get done, so I really hope you can get that organized soon. 🙂

A little side note here:
College is what it is—thankfully, the whole credit-hour system didn't really trip me up—but I did have mandatory lectures and had to maintain perfect attendance for my labs. That said, medical issues are always a valid excuse; they won't deny you an excused absence for that. Just grab a doctor's note and you're good to go. It’s always been accepted, and it still is, so please don't waste your energy searching for complex loopholes before you've even fixed your insurance situation. Otherwise, you'll end up paying for endless tests that you don't even need.

Sophia Wells72 said:Don't pay out of pocket if you can just fix your health insurance coverage...
but look, having actual medical issues is a perfectly valid excuse—they aren't going to let you slide without a signature for that. Just ask for a doctor's note and call it a day. That’s always been the standard, and it still is. Don't waste your brainpower stressing over tests you need to take before you even get your insurance sorted. You'll end up paying for a mountain of unnecessary exams.

I'm going to try to sort out my insurance through the university🙂 hopefully it works... and regarding the doctor's note... they don't really trust us much anymore and they're being super strict about the rules... mostly because so many people used to buy fake notes and stuff... they keep telling us that since we chose to go to college, we're supposed to be the priority in everything... they don't seem to get that not everyone has things totally figured out (I mean, we all have problems, but some are just heavier than others) ...to me, the way they run things there is just senseless. They don't consult anyone, it's honestly terrible... I had classes from 8 AM to 4 PM today, which was absolutely exhausting 😢 but I'm still going to give it my all to get this insurance situation handled ASAP so I can finally get this over with 🙂!

Thanks so much to everyone for the help 🙂

vividsailor7 said:Sophia Wells72 explained everything perfectly, but I just wanted to jump in and list the specific blood tests you actually need to get done, just so you have the full picture:
1. Thyroid panel—T3, T4, and TSH.
2. LH, FSH, E2, total testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, DHEA-S, and cortisol.

Could someone clarify what "total testosterone" refers to?

mistygull21 said:Can someone please explain what "testo uk." actually means?

Total testosterone.

Sophia Wells72 said:Look, sex is sex. You can have it, obviously—just don't be an idiot and use a condom. 😉
Look, when it comes to pregnancy, everyone is wired differently. There’s no one-size-fits-all rulebook here. My advice? The sooner you dive into this head-on and get a detailed handle on what's actually going on, the better off you'll be. Once you're ready to start a family, you'll sit down with a top-tier specialist and figure out the next steps—there are plenty of modern therapies and options available these days. But for now, just focus on getting your health in check and running those tests. Sort out the medical side of things first, and everything else will fall into place much easier down the road. 🙂

Hey everyone. Just checking in to let you know I’ve finally started pulling together all the necessary paperwork. Honestly? It’s turning out to be a much bigger headache than I originally anticipated. Dealing with this mountain of bureaucracy is proving to be a total nightmare, but I'm pushing through. Fingers crossed that everything actually works out in the end—I'm hoping to have this whole mess sorted out pretty soon.
I’ve got another thing weighing on me, too—honestly, it’s starting to really get under my skin. 😢 You all know my specific situation, so I figured this was probably the best place to ask. I’m really hoping I don’t look like an idiot for bringing this up, but honestly, given what I’m dealing with, I just have no idea how things work. Basically, I’ve decided to sleep with my boyfriend, but if I’m being totally real, I’m terrified of relying solely on condoms.😢 I honestly have no clue what would happen if things just went south or if he were to, God forbid, pass away or something... but looking at my own situation, I feel like getting pregnant is basically out of the question. I’m not even ovulating or anything, so there's just nothing happening there. I really don't know. 😢 I honestly have no clue what’s actually causing this disorder of mine. I mean, maybe I’m even having some kind of ovulation cycle? I was reading up on it somewhere and that possibility crossed my mind. 😢 And even if something actually happens, how am I supposed to know if I’m pregnant or not when there aren't even any signs? Honestly, that part really scares me. This whole situation feels completely surreal, and I feel like I'm flying blind because I just don't know enough about it yet. 🤷 Does anyone actually know anything more about this? Given everything that's been going on lately, I’m feeling pretty much in the dark here.

Sandra Turner71 said:Hey everyone! Just checking in to say I've finally started gathering all the necessary paperwork. Honestly, though? It’s turning out to be way more of a headache than I ever anticipated. Dealing with these bureaucratic issues is just... ugh. I'm just praying to God everything works out in the end and that I can get this sorted soon.
I'm also dealing with one specific issue—something that's really weighing on me. 😢 Since my situation is pretty unique, I figured this was the best place to ask. I really hope I don't sound foolish, but I'm genuinely lost regarding how things work given my condition... Basically, I've decided to sleep with my boyfriend, but to be honest, I'm terrified of relying solely on condoms.😢 I mean, I don't even know what could happen if, heaven forbid, one breaks or something... In my head, I figure I can't actually get pregnant because I don't ovulate or anything, but I truly don't know.😢 Because I'm not sure what the actual underlying cause of my disorder is, maybe I *am* ovulating—I read somewhere that it's even a possibility.😢 If something were to happen, how would I even know if I'm pregnant when I have no biological indicators to go by? It's terrifying because the whole situation feels so surreal, and I just don't know enough about it.🤷 Please, if anyone knows more about this, let me know, considering everything I'm going through...

Not a single method out there is 100% foolproof, unless you're practicing total abstinence.

I’ve been hunting for this specific thread on the forum for ages.
You have no idea how happy I am to finally find it, but at the same time, it sucks seeing posts from girls dealing with the exact same thing. If anyone else here is going through this, please just hit me up via DM 😉. I'd love to swap stories if you're up for it. I don't have anyone in my social circle I can actually talk to about this, and frankly, I don't want to deal with their judgment anyway.
I never had a real period. Around age 15, I had this pathetic little bleeding that lasted maybe two or three days, and then nothing. Since then, I’ve been waiting for it every single month, but ten years have passed and it hasn't shown up once. I just assumed it was a matter of time—that every woman eventually gets her period. It didn't really start hitting me until I was 18, which is when I started seeing gynecologists and running hormone tests. My levels were a mess; my estradiol levels made it look like I was already in menopause. Since I wasn't sexually active, they wouldn't even do a standard exam; they used those prenatal ultrasounds instead, and the doctors kept saying they couldn't get a clear enough picture that way. Everyone kept telling me everything was fine, that all my organs were there. After those exams, they put me on Dabrowski, which did absolutely nothing, so they sent me to a specialist. He recommended a laparoscopy, and honestly, my life has been upside down ever since.
The results were a disaster. They showed a uterus that was small and underdeveloped, but the ovaries and fallopian tubes looked okay. As for how this happened? The explanation was pretty vague. Basically, they hinted that my mother might have taken or eaten something during pregnancy that caused this defect, and that was it. No other explanation. You have no idea how hard this is to write about. I haven't told anyone except my immediate family. I've been living in this weird headspace, trying to suppress it and pretend everything is normal, but I can't. It's constantly on my mind... and the worst part is the feeling that there's no fix for any of this. I've been on hormone therapy for almost a year now, and it does nothing except cause breakouts all over my face and body and give me tons of cellulite. I'm terrified of aging and osteoporosis. I already had a bone density scan and I have osteopenia, and I'm only 25. I'm scared of these hormone pills and what they do to me, but I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place... I don't have a choice.
Anyway, I'm rambling... I wanted to ask if anyone knows a good specialist who handles these specific issues. Can anyone give me a recommendation? I really need a second opinion. Also, would it be smart to drop the current therapy and try some alternative medicine that's less harsh but does something similar?
Best to everyone 😉

Hey,

Has anyone here dealt with amenorrhea and tried using Vitex?

I haven’t had a period in four months now. I have zero interest in messing with hormone therapy, so I decided to give Vitex a shot instead. I’ve been taking it consistently for nearly two months, but so far, nothing. 😢

pms free

I suppose you might find some relevant experiences to read through here..

I can't seem to get a new thread started, so I'm just going to throw this out here and see what happens. I was just reading this article about the benefits of colloidal silver and how it supposedly cures everything—migraines, impotence, thyroid issues, you name it. Has anyone here actually tried using colloidal silver? Did it actually work for you? According to what I read, it’s also good for sinus infections, chronic fatigue, hemorrhoids, skin conditions... If anyone knows anything at all about this stuff, please, please weigh in and let us know what you know!

I don't think it's quite the same thing, honestly. Besides, I just got some feedback and a whole new perspective on this, which makes me feel like I actually asked the right crowd after all. I mean, if you ask a vegetarian if vegetables are healthy, you're going to get the exact answer you expect... this way is much better!

Look, when it comes to things like colloidal silver, MMS, and all that, we aren't discussing it here on the health boards. If you want to get into that stuff, go find the "Alternative" PDF.

Could someone walk me through the potential consequences of primary amenorrhea? Also—and this is a big one—what actually happens to girls who don't seek treatment for it?