Females: Your Period / Question
Published: December 4, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I'm 15, and I started my period a long time ago, and my period in terms of flow have never been really heavy or really light, but my cycles have been farther and farther apart as I get older. I haven't had my period for a long while now, and I'm not sure what could be wrong. I am obese, but only by 50 or 60 pounds. I'm not a worrier, and I'm not very stressed. I've never had any type of sex with a partner, but I have masturbated. What could be the cause of my missed periods? And if I have to go to a doctor, what kind of tests will they perform, and will they be able to tell that I have masturbated? If they can tell, will they inform my parents without my consent? Thanks for your help.
Signed: 15 YO - Periods Getting Farther Apart
Dear 15 YO - Periods Getting Farther Apart,
You ask a lot of really good questions! Unfortunately, it is impossible for TeenHealthFX to diagnose you over the Internet, and it is a good idea for you to see your doctor so you can determine what is causing you to not get your period and to come up with some sort of appropriate treatment - it is very important for young women to menstruate regularly because the associated hormones (mainly estrogen) are very critical for the development of strong bones. It is understandable that you might be uncomfortable discussing your problem with your doctor, but remember that doctors are trained to deal with sensitive issues such as puberty and sexual development, and will do their best to make you feel at ease. Irregular menstruation is actually a fairly common problem among teenagers, so know that you are not the only adolescent to have to see a doctor for this type of problem.
First of all, there is a good possibility that you are not getting your period because you are overweight. While a lot of people think that amenorrhea (not menstruating) is only a result of being underweight, obesity is actually a fairly common cause of missed periods. Other common causes of not menstruating are pregnancy (which is unlikely, given that you have never had sexual intercourse with a partner), anxiety, vigorous athletics, emotional distress, endocrine (hormone) problems, or certain medications. But, only your doctor can do the appropriate examination and tests to determine precisely what are causing your problem.
Even if obesity is not the reason you are not menstruating, it is important to realize that being overweight is a very important issue and perhaps should be discussed with your doctor as well. While few studies have been done on the effects of obesity on teenagers and young adults, much research has shown that there is serious health problems associated with being overweight in adulthood. This includes things like having a significantly increased risk of having heart problems, getting diabetes or having trouble reproducing when you might want to have children. And, a lot of studies have shown that weight-loss can help regulate menstruation and decrease the risks of future health problems. FX knows that it is difficult to lose weight, and suggests that you talk to your doctor about simple things you can begin to do to begin to feel healthier. For a starting point, you can check out Eating Healthy and try to get some exercise every day.
When you go to the doctor, he or she will probably begin by taking a full medical history. This will most likely include questions about when you got your first period, when you started noticing irregularities with your cycle and whether or not you have any other symptoms. You will probably get a full physical examination, and quite possibly a gynecological exam as well. FX knows that this might be kind of scary, but it is an essential part of diagnosing what might be causing your missed periods. For some information on what to expect from that exam, you can check out Sexually Active and Wondering About a GYN.
From your question, it appears that you might think something is wrong with masturbation, but FX wants to reassure you that masturbation is a normal, healthy part of being a teenager. It allows you to figure out what feels good to you sexually and helps you to become more comfortable with your own body. In fact, some studies have shown that about 55 percent of all 13-year-olds (both boys and girls) masturbate and this figure increases to more than 80 percent in 15-year olds. In addition, it is a safe way of relieving sexual tension without running the risk of becoming pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). There is no way for your doctor to tell if you have masturbated (or been sexually active, for that matter) unless you tell him or her about it. And, doctor-patient confidentiality protects your doctor from telling your parents about your sexual activities, so you needn't worry about that.
It's really important for you to see a doctor to find out why you're not menstruating. If you cannot go to your own doctor, you can call a teen health center or Planned Parenthood in your area. Teen health centers can see teens for sexual health reasons without your parent's consent and on a low/no cost basis. If you live in Northern New Jersey you can also call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at (973) 971.6475. Good luck!
Signed: TeenHealthFX
One in four teenage girls in the 
