Body

I’m 16, but haven’t gotten my period yet

If you have not started your period and it has been 5 or more years since your breasts first started to grow, you could be dealing with delayed (late) puberty. If you are 16 or older, talk to your parents/guardian about seeing a doctor. Sometimes there is a medical reason for delayed puberty, such as poor nutrition, but there is no cause for most women and no treatment is needed. Puberty will happen in time.

Not having regular periods (one each month) can be a sign of a problem with your hormone levels called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). PCOS can cause you to miss periods or stop getting your period, or have bleeding at times when you aren’t supposed to have your period. PCOS can also cause weight gain, a lot of facial hair, pain in your pelvic area, bad acne, and dandruff (white flakes in your hair). Only a doctor can tell you if you have PCOS. Learn more about PCOS.

My period doesn’t follow a schedule at all

When you first get your period, it is normal to have some months when you don’t have a period, or even months when you have 2 periods. They should become more regular (once a month) over time. If this does not happen, you may have a problem with your hormone levels called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). PCOS can cause you to miss periods or stop getting your period, or have bleeding at times when you aren’t supposed to have your period. PCOS can also cause weight gain, a lot of facial hair, pain in your pelvic area, bad acne, and dandruff (white flakes in your hair). Only a doctor can tell you if you have PCOS. Learn more about PCOS.

My cramps are horrible

You may have PMS (Read more about PMS) or dysmenorrhea, painful cramps caused by abnormal muscle movements in your uterus during periods. Things that can put you at risk for dysmenorrhea include: smoking, being overweight, and starting your period before age 11. Other signs of dysmenorrhea are: pain down your legs, throwing up, diarrhea, being tired, weakness, fainting, and headaches. Only a doctor can tell you if you have dysmenorrhea.

Even though PMS and dysmenorrhea can be a normal part of having your period, be sure to see your doctor for:

• Tips on feeling better

• To make sure you do not have a serious health problem

• Painful cramps can also be a sign of endometriosis, a common disease among women. (About 5.5 million women in the U.S. have it!) Endometriosis happens when tissue that is supposed to grow in the uterus makes its way to grow in other parts of your pelvic and lower stomach areas. Along with cramps, endometriosis can also cause heavy periods, long lasting pain in your pelvic area, and lower back pain. For many women, endometriosis can be treated with medicines or surgery. Only a doctor can tell you if you have endometriosis.
• Painful cramps can also be a sign of an infection such as pelvic inflammatory disease or PID. PID is commonly caused by chlamydia and gonorrhea, diseases passed on through sexual contact. If you have pain in your lower stomach, bleeding in between periods or fluid coming from your vagina that has a bad odor, see your doctor right away for treatment. If you do not treat PID, it can damage your fallopian tubes and hurt your ability to have babies later in life. The only way to totally avoid PID caused by sexually transmitted infections is to avoid sex. Condoms can help prevent sexually transmitted infections, but it is still possible for the germs to pass from one person to another when there is sexual contact.

My lower back and/or legs hurt

You may have PMS (Read more about PMS) or dysmenorrhea, painful cramps caused by abnormal muscle movements of your uterus during periods. Things that can put you at risk for dysmenorrhea include: Smoking, being overweight, and starting your period before age 11. Other signs of dysmenorrhea are: pain down the legs, throwing up, diarrhea, being tired, weakness, fainting, and headaches. Only a doctor can tell you if you have dysmenorrhea.

I am sick to my stomach (throwing up and/or diarrhea)

You may have PMS (Read more about PMS) or dysmenorrhea, painful cramps caused by abnormal muscle movements of your uterus during periods. Things that can put you at risk for dysmenorrhea include: Smoking, being overweight, and starting your period before age 11. Other signs of dysmenorrhea are: Pain down the legs, throwing up, diarrhea, being tired, weakness, fainting, and headaches. Only a doctor can tell you if you have dysmenorrhea.

I get headaches

You may have PMS (Read more about PMS) or dysmenorrhea, painful cramps cuased by abnormal muscle movements in your uterus druing periods. Things that can put you at risk for dysmenorrhea include: Smoking, being overweight, and starting your period before age 11. Other signs of dysmenorrhea are: Pain down your legs, throwing up, diarrhea, being tired, weakness, fainting, and headaches. Only a doctor can tell you if you have dysmenorrhea.

I am no longer getting my period

When you stop getting your period, it is called amenorrhea. If you have had sexual intercourse, you will first need to see your doctor to find out if you are or are not pregnant. If you know you are not pregnant and have not had your period for 3 to 6 months, you will need to see your doctor to find out why your periods have stopped and to fix the problem. The following things can cause your period to stop:

• Eating disorders
• Over-exercising
• Stress
• Certain medicines (chemotherapy, used to treat cancer, and some antidepressants, used to treat depression and other health problems)
• Problems with your thyroid and polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS; PCOS is a problem with your hormone levels that causes weight gain, pelvic pain, bad acne, irregular periods and dandruff (white flakes in your hair)

While amenorrhea may be caused by a health problem that needs to be treated, there are some things you can do to try to keep your periods on a regular schedule:

• Keep a healthy body weight for your height (Read more about healthy weight)

• Ask your parents/guardian or doctor for help controlling stress if you feel overwhelmed

• Stay away from drugs and alcohol

• Do not smoke

My period is really heavy

Heavy periods can be a sign of endometriosis, a common disease among women. (About 5.5 million women in the U.S. have it!) Endometriosis happens when tissue that is supposed to grow in the uterus makes its way to grow in other parts of your pelvic and lower stomach areas. Along with heavy periods, endometriosis can also cause painful cramps, long lasting pain in your pelvic area, and lower back pain. For many women, endometriosis can be treated with medicines or surgery. Only a doctor can tell you if you have endometriosis.

You might also want to talk with your doctor about a bleeding disorder (problem) if you have very heavy menstrual periods, especially starting with your first period. You should also talk to the doctor if you have had problems with the following:

• easy bruising
• nosebleeds that last a long time and happen often
• heavy bleeding that lasts a long time after minor cuts, dental work or surgery

The most common bleeding problem in girls and women is von Willebrand's disease or VWD. People who have this disease are missing something in the blood that helps you clot normally, or stop bleeding. This disorder runs in families, so your mother, sister, female cousins, or aunts also might have some of the signs listed above.   To find out if you have this disorder, you will need special blood tests to check for von Willebrand's and to find out your blood type. Your test results can be wrong if you're taking hormones - which can be used to treat heavy bleeding - so it is best to have the test done before taking getting treated.

There are many other types of bleeding disorders. These disorders happen when the blood is missing important clotting substances or doesn't have enough clotting substances. Problems with blood vessels can also cause bleeding disorders. Von Willebrand’s is the most common bleeding disorder, but in general, bleeding disorders are rare.

I have horrible acne

Having acne is a normal part of being a teen. If you have bad acne on top of irregular periods, a lot of facial hair, weight gain, and pelvic pain, you may have a problem with your hormone levels called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). When you first get your period, it is normal to have some months when you don’t have a period, or even months when you have 2 periods. Your periods should become more regular (once a month) over time. But PCOS can cause you to miss periods or stop getting your period, or even bleed at times when you aren’t supposed to have your period. PCOS can also cause weight gain, a lot of facial hair, pelvic pain, and dandruff (white flakes in your hair). Only a doctor can tell you if you have PCOS.

Learn more about PCOS.

I notice a lot of hair on my face – help!

A lot of facial hair, along with bad acne and irregular periods, can be a sign of a problem with your hormone levels called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). When you first get your period, it is normal to have some months when you don’t have a period, or even months when you have 2 periods. Your periods should become more regular (once a month) over time. But PCOS can cause you to miss periods or stop getting your period, or even bleed at times when you aren’t supposed to have your period. PCOS can also cause weight gain, pelvic pain, and dandruff (white flakes in your hair). Only a doctor can tell you if you have PCOS. Learn more about PCOS.