[TessSM]

I have had my period for four and a half years, and it has always been a bit irregular, with my cycles 30-45 days long. I have never been to see the gynecologist before. I am a virgin, and I have been without my period for 125 days now. I told my mom about this when I was almost three months late, but she wasn't concerned because she said your periods are always irregular when you're young. I recently had a visit with my doctor to get a new inhaler, and I told her about my late period. She referred me to her nurse practitioner who specializes in women's health. However, my mom is trying to save money so she can take us on a long vacation and said that she won't make me an appointment until after we get back from vacation on July 10. I read online that after one goes four months without a period, it increases their chances of cancer. I've expressed my concern to my mother, but she says she doesn't want to here about it anymore and I won't get an appointment until after vacation. I can't make myself an appointment because I don't have my license yet. I am freaking out because I'm worried I have some disease and I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Is it okay for me to be waiting this long before visiting my doctor? What should I do?

[Ashlee T.]

Well first, I'm sorry your mom is being so insensitive. You're clearly very worried. Unless you're the type that always wants to go to the doctor for one thing or another, then I think she's being very insensitive. Especially considering you're a teenager, it's not terribly uncommon to have a really irregular period. And I'd say that chances are whatever is causing it is not a life threatening illness. I have no way of confirming that of course without you seeing a doctor. Have had any weight loss or gain lately? Have you increased your physical activity? Tell me a little about your weight and height.

[TessSM]

I am 5'5" tall and weigh about 190 pounds. I have gained 20-30 pounds over the last two years after I quit my dance team, but it hasn't been remarkably fast, or anything. A few months after I quit dancing, I started running. For about two months, I would run a 5k on the treadmill 2-3 times a week, and I noticed that the exercise helped regulate my periods to where the cycles were about 30 days. However, I haven't had much exercise since then besides all my walking up and down the stairs at school and around town. Ever since my period was about three months late I have been trying to run 5 times a week, at least, in hopes that it would bring on my period and help me regulate them. I started out slow, though, running a few laps around the park and increasing to running a mile each day 4-5 times a week. Since I started running after my period was already late, I don't know of any changes in exercise or anything else that would've caused this. (By the way, my periods were irregular even when I was on my dance team, but my cycles were 30-40 days.)

[TessSM]

Also, I don't go to the doctor very often, but my mom just had to pay quite a bit for inhalers and EpiPens for us, and she is trying to take us on this vacation even though money is pretty tight, so that's why she's reluctant to take me in.

[Ashlee T.]

You could have a hormonal imbalance. If you're that physically active and not losing the weight, it could all be tied together. Could be something like PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I understand that times are tough and that your mom is trying to plan something fun, but it's not a good example to set for her children to put vacation and fun over health. I would say in this case that if the vacation is coming up very soon, you'd be fine to wait until afterwards but there is a good chance she is going to be even more broke AFTER vacation for a while. My guess is that there is nothing life threatening going on here, and that most likely a doctor is going to recommend you be put on the birth control pill to regulate your periods. The pill brings on a whole different set of issues. I hope that whatever doctor you go to, he/she is thorough enough to actually test your hormone levels and do an exam before throwing you on the bc pill.

Also, 30-40 cycles are not considered irregular. Anything in that range would be considered quite normal.