Period talk: Questions and advice

Brenda Cooper3 said:Did you end up seeing her doctor later to figure out why her period was so late? 😕

Well, that tends to happen with women who already have irregular cycles, though mine are usually pretty predictable. I’ve had one instance where it was off by about ten days, and a few months ago it was only three. I guess it really depends on whether your girlfriend typically has regular or irregular cycles.

We haven't been together that long—just over six months, I think—so I never actually asked if her cycles are irregular. But based on what's happening, it seems likely, especially since she’s under an enormous amount of stress right now. Her father passed away three months ago, and she's currently between jobs...

Brenda Cooper3 said:I simply do not have the stamina to wade through all thirty-six pages of this thread... No. Furthermore, in my estimation, this entire discussion should have been shuttered after the first five pages; there is absolutely no point in dragging this out if you truly believe people ought to refrain from asking questions here, or if you expect us to retreat to the very first page just to recycle the same tired comments. This isn't some graduate-level philosophy seminar. $10 I may eventually pull the trigger on this purchase, but there is certainly no harm in conducting a bit more due diligence first—preferably in a forum where people aren't quite as high-strung and reactive as you are. ☕

I have absolutely no intention of engaging in this sort of discourse.

Brenda Cooper3 said:In all my years on this planet, I have yet to witness more than ten days of true, unadulterated bliss.
I find myself gripped by a profound sense of anxiety this time around, even though I have already broached a similar inquiry in another thread. My concern stems from a series of unmistakable physical signals that suggest my body is bracing for something: I am urinating with much greater frequency, I am plagued by the persistent sensation that my period is imminent only for it to never arrive, there is an unusual amount of thick white discharge, and my abdomen feels noticeably bloated. To be perfectly honest, I recall experiencing these exact symptoms on previous occasions only for my cycle to follow shortly thereafter, but this time the delay persists, and I am descending into a state of utter despair. 👎

I find myself questioning whether those swollen lymph nodes under my armpits might be a significant indicator, though I have experienced similar swelling in the past, which I suspect was merely a localized reaction to certain deodorants. I have also been contending with headaches and backaches, yet I struggle to definitively link those symptoms to my pregnancy since they are persistent issues I’ve faced long before this period. What strikes me as truly unusual, however, is that my last two or three menstrual cycles have been uncharacteristically brief—lasting only two or three days when they typically span at least four—and concluded with a brownish, watery discharge. As for my skin texture, such as on my face, nothing seems to have changed at all.

I have been in a state of total shock since I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror today and noticed a slight bulge in my midsection. I simply cannot shake this gnawing, intrusive thought that I might actually be pregnant. I am delaying taking a test until tomorrow when I head over to my boyfriend's place, because the idea of discovering such news entirely on my own, only to be consumed by sheer terror, is more than I can bear. I feel absolutely wretched. 👎

Based on the symptoms you’ve described, I am quite convinced we are looking at some sort of inflammation here. It could very well be an infection in the bladder or perhaps the ovaries, though it is just as plausible that you have simply succumbed to a weakened immune system after being caught in the cold.
To be perfectly honest, if she were to place a wager, she would certainly bet on an outbreak rather than a pregnancy.

rowdyhawk27 said:@Brenda Cooper3/">@@Brenda Cooper3
actually, my timing is usually spot on.
back in January, I was 10 days late this year and I was absolutely terrified I might be pregnant... the symptoms were identical to yours... constant bathroom trips, discharge, brutal PMS, bloating—I felt like my period was coming any second. I took a pregnancy test, and it was negative. Once I saw that, I finally bled.
Now, this month, I'm 10 days late again. During those ten days, I dealt with that awful pain you get right before your period hits... it's miserable.

As soon as my period starts, I'm heading to the OBGYN to get my hormones checked and schedule an ultrasound (I had a Pap smear and a routine exam last month and everything seemed fine), just to make sure my ovaries and hormone levels are actually okay.

I sometimes get pain in my right ovary—or at least, I think it's the ovary, though it could be my kidney. 🤷It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the sensation is coming from. But generally, I get this dull ache down there. I'm aware it could be a cyst, a bacterial infection, inflammation, or even what I've read about an ovary "sticking" to the uterus... and all that other nonsense. Honestly, the idea of going to the gynecologist makes me nauseous. If I get my period, I'll hopefully go, because if I am pregnant, I won't have much of a choice anyway.
I'm not sure if that's why my cycle is off, since that specific side has been acting up randomly for two or three years now. It comes and goes.

Anyway, your response actually helped calm me down a bit, rowdyhawk27.👍 It's incredible how our own bodies can play such games with us...

stormymaker24 said:Based on what you’ve described, it smells like an infection to me. Maybe bladder or ovaries, but definitely an inflammation. Or perhaps you're just run down or caught a chill.
Honestly, if I had to bet, I'd put my money on an infection rather than pregnancy.

Thanks—at this point, I’m actually hoping it’s just an infection. Infections can be treated; they aren't exactly a "threat." About a year ago, I dealt with intense kidney pain, ended up in the ER, and the doctor prescribed some meds. I drank plenty of cranberry juice after that, and since then, my bladder has been fine, aside from needing to go more often or not being able to hold it as long as I used to.
As for being chilled, I'm not quite sure what you mean. I tend to walk around barefoot on tile floors, and I know I have a tendency to get a bit frostbitten sometimes... but it’s not a major issue. I've only had one cold this entire winter, even though I usually catch them constantly. If anything, my immune system seems better. But beyond that... I truly have no clue what could be keeping my period from coming. I really don't know. 🤷 👎
By the way, who wrote that "we won't talk like this" comment? Was that you? 😕

Oh, right—if there are any experts here, is it possible for something like the cervix to tighten up and obstruct the flow of a period? Is that even a thing? 😢

Brenda Cooper3 said:I get this pain in my right ovary sometimes—or at least, I think it’s the ovary, though it could be my kidney. 🤷 It’s hard to pinpoint the exact location. Generally, there's just this dull ache down there. I'm aware it could be a cyst, a bacterial issue, inflammation, or even what I read about an ovary "sticking" to the uterus... and all that other nonsense. But honestly, the thought of seeing a gynecologist makes me physically ill. If I end up pregnant, I suppose I won't have much of a choice, but otherwise, I'd rather avoid it.
I don't think that's why my period was late, since this particular spot has been acting up randomly for two or three years now. It comes and goes.

Anyway, your response helped calm me down a bit, rowdyhawk27 👍. It is truly remarkable how our own bodies can play these games with us...

I had those same sharp pains. I went to see my primary care doctor and she thought it was a bladder infection, which is exactly what I dealt with a month ago, and now here we are again.
And when they prescribed antibiotics, I took them for the "bladder" issue, and everything seemed fine for a while.
But now it's back.
It's a stinging sensation. Nothing life-threatening, but definitely there. And it's a bit to the left too... I can't tell if it's the ovary or the kidney. Just a general ache low in the center.🤷

Long story short, I'm heading back to the OBGYN. When I mentioned my missed period last month, I went to see her immediately, and she didn't really say anything to me about it. :S

She did the exam and felt everything around, saying everything looked perfectly normal. :S
Right.

Brenda Cooper3 said:Well, thank you; at this particular juncture, I am actually hoping that an infection has set in. Infections can be treated, so I hardly view them as a "threat." About a year ago, I suffered from excruciating kidney pain, which necessitated an emergency room visit where the doctor prescribed some medication; I supplemented that with cranberry juice, and since then, my bladder hasn't given me trouble, aside from a more frequent urge to go and a diminished ability to hold it for extended periods.
As for the matter of being cold, I am entirely uncertain as to what you mean by that. I frequently walk barefoot on tile floors, and I must admit I occasionally slip quite spectacularly on the cold surfaces... yet it is hardly a significant concern for me. This winter, I managed only a single cold despite having dozens in the past; if anything, I would argue my immune system has significantly strengthened. But beyond that... I truly have no inkling as to what could be preventing my period from arriving. I simply do not know. 🤷 👎
By the way, who was responsible for that "we won't talk like this" comment—was it you or someone else? 😕

Exactly.
The green shade is merely a modified version.

Given that you clearly suffer from renal and urinary tract issues, if I were in your position, I would certainly head to the clinic to get a urine culture performed. It is entirely possible that the infection never fully cleared, allowing bacteria to persist and multiply. I have endured similar ordeals myself, where the pain is relentless and the bladder is the primary culprit.

Look, in my experience, when a woman’s body reacts physically to environmental factors, it manifests through her menstrual cycle. Whether the period is absent, delayed, heavier, or lighter, we react viscerally to stress, exhaustion, or even a common cold. I associate being cold with the possibility that your body might be in a weakened state due to various factors, particularly during this season when the weather cannot decide whether it is spring or winter; such fluctuations can absolutely impact ovarian function. You might have a minor inflammation that should have resolved itself, but because you've stressed your ovaries and the rest of your body with the cold, that inflammation has flared up. Furthermore, considering how long it has been since your last period, you may have been dealing with this for a month or two already. And once you start obsessing over the possibility of pregnancy, of course, the delay only persists.

Regarding that extra note—no.

@ Queen
Yeah, I’m feeling the same way—it comes and goes, just little stabs here and there... though it hasn't actually flared up in about two weeks.
Does a bladder issue really affect the ovaries or uterus enough to disrupt a regular cycle? It feels like they shouldn't have anything to do with one another since they're separate organs, right?

@stormymaker24/">@@stormymaker24
Honestly, I'm almost relieved (not that I actually want this...) if it turns out to be an infection. I should be able to sleep okay for now, but I'm taking a test this Wednesday. Fingers crossed, or whatever the equivalent is.

Thanks, stormymaker24 and Queen👍

I have a feeling it wasn't actually a bladder infection. I took that pill and everything seemed fine for a moment, but then it came right back. Though, to be fair, it doesn't sting when I go, and I'm not running to the bathroom every five minutes anymore.
I told myself I’d just head down to the Mayo Clinic and see what they say.

I just hope they don't misdiagnose me again. If they do, will they just stop treating me altogether?😁

Fingers crossed for you 👍 😁

@Brenda Cooper3/">@@Brenda Cooper3: I see you’re "thrilled" about the possibility of an inflammation, and honestly, I get it if the alternative is an unplanned pregnancy. BUT... don't play around when it comes to an infection. Just go see a doctor. I know it's a hassle, but I don't have any issues, so I just head in for my regular checkups without making a thing out of it.

Nicole Miller71 said:@Brenda Cooper3/">@@Brenda Cooper3: I see you're "happy" about the possibility of an inflammation, and I get it if the alternative is an unplanned pregnancy. BUT don't mess around with an infection either. Go see a gynecologist. I know it's a drag, but I don't have any issues, so I just head in for my regular checkups.

I'll go, once I've taken a test 😁.

Now I'm curious about something else:

If I had actually conceived just last month, and now I'm already six days late, is there any way I could feel my cervix or uterus with my finger and tell if it feels thicker than usual?
I can usually check my cervix without an issue—it even feels a bit lower 😕 lately—but if I am pregnant (God forbid 🙄), is there any way to detect those changes myself?

It really makes me wonder.
And what are the odds that a 20-year-old with regular cycles, a healthy weight, and no major stress would just skip a period entirely? That usually only happens with more serious medical conditions (which I don't think I have), right?

Brenda Cooper3 said:did you end up seeing an OB-GYN later on to figure out why your period was running that late? 😕

Nah, I didn't, but honestly, it's been forever since then—like, over a decade. I've seen my doctor plenty of times since that happened.
I don't have any major issues now, so whatever caused it back then, it was just a one-off thing.

It showed a faint pink second T line 🙂
If only there were some chance it was just a false positive, but the kit says they're 99% accurate 👎
I am actually dying right now... 🙂

So, here’s the situation... I'm 16 and a half years old...
My periods have never really been consistent. They've always skipped around, coming every 29, 40, 49, or even 59 days. The longest stretch I've gone without one was three months... when they do show up, they usually last about six days at most...
The last time I had one was after a 59-day gap... but now it's been going on for three weeks straight, since last Wednesday... I'm honestly terrified that something might be seriously wrong...
I don't want to bring this up with my mom because she'll just insist on making me see a gynecologist, and I really don't want to go...
And I'm not sure if it matters, but I am sexually active...
I'm really hoping someone can help me... because the bleeding seems to be getting heavier every single day... 😢

Irregular periods with such massive swings in cycle length are almost always a sign of a hormonal imbalance. You really need to see a gynecologist, and potentially an endocrinologist too—I personally dealt with similar fluctuations when I was managing hypothyroidism. But regardless, you absolutely have to talk to a doctor.
What are you waiting for by avoiding the clinic? Avoiding the specialist won't make the anxiety go away, and it certainly won't solve the underlying issue.

And just to be clear, sexual activity isn't the cause here. This is strictly a hormonal matter. If you're bleeding for this long, you need to seek medical attention immediately to get something to help stop the hemorrhaging.

Kevin Reyes61 said:So, here is the situation... I am sixteen and a half years old..
my periods have never been consistent..they would come every 29, 40, 49, or 59 days. The longest stretch without one was three months..and when they did happen, they lasted at most six days..
The last time I had one was after a 59-day gap...but now it has been going on for three weeks already, or rather, it hit the three-week mark this Wednesday...I am absolutely terrified that this might be something serious..
I do not want to talk to my mom because she would just send me to an OB-GYN, and I really do not want to go.
And I am not sure if it matters, but I am sexually active on a regular basis.
I am hoping someone can help me..because the bleeding seems to be getting heavier every single day.. 😢

I am sorry if this comes across as blunt, but there is no other way to put it—you are dealing with extremely irregular cycles, heavy bleeding lasting three weeks, and yet you expect us to tell you exactly what? To tell you everything is fine, normal, or that it will just pass? Well, we won't. Because nobody on this forum has any idea what is happening, and frankly, the situation sounds alarming.
Some girls here are afraid to tell their mothers things because their parents refuse to let them see a doctor. However, your mother sounds like a sensible woman; tell her what is happening and get to an OB-GYN immediately. Unless, of course, you would much rather deal with potential complications down the road just because you felt embarrassed once.

The only person who can actually help you is an OB-GYN. If the idea of the appointment scares you, there are plenty of threads here discussing doctors and what that first exam is actually like, so go read those. You have nothing to fear regarding the visit itself, except for the medical reality of what you are experiencing.
Because look, honey, I used to have incredibly heavy periods myself; due to endometriosis, my cycles would sometimes last up to two weeks, which was even considered dangerous because of the excessive blood loss. But this three-week ordeal... even I never experienced anything like that. Go to the doctor!

ironsurfer8 said:Irregular periods where the cycle length swings that wildly are always going to be a sign of hormonal imbalance... you really need to see a gynecologist, maybe even an endocrinologist too (I dealt with massive fluctuations myself due to hypothyroidism, for instance), but you definitely need to talk to a doctor!!!
What's holding you back from seeing a gynecologist? You're just going to stay anxious, and nothing will actually get fixed...

Oh, and having sex doesn't have anything to do with this... it's strictly a hormone issue. If you're bleeding for that long, you really need to get something to help stop it as soon as possible!

I live in a small town... :/
and I don't want my mom finding out that I'm sexually active. (Can a gynecologist tell if I've been having sex during an exam? -.-')
Also, I was wondering if there might be a connection between my weight and my height being a bit out of balance...🙄

Kevin Reyes61 As if anyone actually believes that.
I find myself residing in a rather insignificant little town, where the horizons feel perpetually narrow and the sense of stagnation is almost palpable.
I have absolutely no desire to let my mother discover that I am sexually active. It would be an utter catastrophe. Is there any possibility that a gynecologist might somehow discern this during a routine examination?
I find myself wondering whether there might be some underlying connection between my current weight and the fact that I am carrying far more than is appropriate for my height. 🙄

Would you truly prefer to endure excessive hemorrhaging and risk permanent infertility or a lifetime of debilitating hormonal imbalances just to satisfy your misplaced sense of pride?
Believe me when I say this: once you actually confront her, your mother is going to be far more preoccupied with the fact that you’ve been bleeding for such an agonizingly long time than she will ever be about whether or not you're a virgin.

Perhaps one might consider that this could also be an underlying indicator of hypothyroidism.

I know I can't really prove it...
I actually had quite a few clumps come out today..
I'm going to have a chat with my sister-in-law about it, maybe she can help me get an appointment with my OBGYN..
I just hope it isn't anything serious😢

...mine finally arrived this morning, and I have to say, they are incredibly painful😠, arriving a full twelve days late. I’ll admit, I was starting to get genuinely anxious—even though we were being extremely careful using condoms that had passed inspection😁 without fail. It’s just that over the last year, my cycle has been remarkably consistent, showing up almost like clockwork, right on schedule every single month...

...to be clear, I don't have PCOS, nor do I deal with hypothyroidism, and I certainly wasn't under any significant stress last month; if anything, I've been feeling quite relaxed and content lately😲

...as soon as this passes, I'm heading straight to the specialist appointment I scheduled a week ago while I was still sitting there in suspense...

...but essentially, I am curious: is it actually possible for PCOS to manifest out of nowhere like this, especially after having already gone through two pregnancies?🤷