[ILC]

I got my first period when I was 14 in August. It lasted 8 days, so it was pretty normal. In September, I only got my period one day. As October went by and I didn't get my period, I didn't think much about it knowing that it was normal for that to happen when you've just gotten your period. I kept thinking the same thing as the months passed by (I was in denial) and never told anyone. As time went by I felt embarrassed for not saying anything, so I just kept it to myself. I would have mentioned it to my doctor when I was 18, but my mother would always insist on going inside the doctor's office with me, and the anxiety of not having said anything for years made me not say anything once again. Now I am 21, and I have no health insurance. I know the absence of my period must have something to do with genetics, since two of my cousins take birth control in order to have their period. Now that I am 21, I'm supposed to go in for a pap smear and I am nervous. I don't know how the doctor will react when I tell her/him that I haven't had my period since I was 14. I know it was a very unwise choice not having done something about before, but what's done is done.

Has anyone gone through this? I don't know how I would even tell the doctor about this. I feel so stupid.

[jen1447]

Don't stress over it, no doctor's gonna hear you say that and scream "Oh my god!" They've heard it all. Just tell them exactly what you told us, you felt nervous about it and it was never an immediate health concern for you. It'll be fine.

[atskitty2]

What Jen said.
Tell your doc everything. There are a few judgmental docs out there, but chances are they just want to make sure you're healthy and taking care of yourself.
Tell them your family history as well.

It's hard to believe your mom doesn't know, if you were living with her as a teen.

[ILC]

Thank you both, that makes me feel a bit at ease. And atskitty2 if she knew she sure never said anything, but I'm sure she wasn't completely clueless. She's one of those people who think that if you're not dying, then you'll be fine whatever is going on with you. That's actually also one of the reasons I never told her anything.

[atskitty2]

Glad it was helpful. Keep us posted!