Females: Your Period / Question
Published: November 21, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I lost my period 4 months ago. I am a virgin so I know that I'm not pregnant, but I did go on a diet that helped me lose 20 pounds. Now I am off the diet and eating everyday food. Even my mom knows that I am eating well. But somehow my period has not returned. I don't want to go to the doctor because I am scared he is going to want to examine me from that side up. I am only 15 so I have never been to a gynecologist. Can you help me?
Signed: 15 And Lost Period
Dear 15 And Lost Period,
TeenHealthFX is glad to hear that your dieting days are over and strongly urges you to see a doctor to evaluate your missed period. Diets that encourage rapid and dramatic weight loss like that which you are describing are simply dangerous for your health and ought not to be followed.
Losing a significant amount of weight in a short period of time can absolutely be bad for your body's overall functioning. In these some cases, it is not at all uncommon for females to experience what is called Amenorrhea, or the loss of their period. The reason your period stopped may be the result of your body not producing enough estrogen because it has not gotten enough nutrients.
But even though your eating habits have returned to normal, it may take your body a while to catch up and function properly. It is important that you see a doctor to make sure that everything is okay and that you are on the right track to becoming healthy again.
Try to remember that doctors are there to help you. Their mission is to care for you and help you to get well, and not at all to scare you or make you feel in any way uncomfortable. Be honest with him or her about your anxiety. They can talk you through the exam before it happens, answer any and all questions you might have and hopefully set you at ease before you get started. You might also want to think about bringing your mom or another trusted friend along for moral support.
If you don't already have a doctor that you feel comfortable with and live in Northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973.971.6475 for an appointment. Out of this area you can contact Planned Parenthood or your local teen clinic.
Good luck.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
About a third of women who seek services related to unprotected sex, such as pregnancy testing or emergency contraception, do not receive STD counseling, testing, or treatment.
