Lack of Periods and Smears.

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

Hello, ladies.

I've been thinking about perhaps getting a pap smear soon, however I'm 19 and I'm not sure if there's a limit on how young you can be to have one? I read the FAQ but maybe I missed it, I gathered you had to be at least 21?

Anyway, I've always had trouble with my periods, when they first started (age 13), they were very heavy and painful and irregular, I then lost them for 1.5 years due to eating issues, then I got better and they came back the same way as they started, except heavier. Now, for the past two years, they have been coming and going very much sporadically, I maybe get 3-4 periods a year (if that), my last period was only 4-5 months ago, but I'd like to get some tests done so I can fix this, as I don't want to risk my fertility (if possible).

Does anyone know what this could even be/is a sign of?
Any experiences would be extremely helpful, thanks. ♥

ETA: I've been on four different types of "the pill" to try and regulate my period, and nothing has worked.

Comments

[macabre.livejournal.com]

I don't believe there is an age limit to pap smears. I had my first one when I was 16. Good luck.

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[kayeyem.livejournal.com]

Where are you?

In the US there's no age limit. Pretty much as soon as you have an issue, or start having sex, or want birth control...

You get one. :) I get one at LEAST yearly--though right now it's every three months because of issues I've had. :)

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

I live in the UK, and I actually just found out that (apparently) you can't have a pap smear until the age of 25(!!) unless you really push your doctor, or go to a private practice. What the hell. :|

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Basically, standard age for pap testing varies somewhat by area.

There is no minimum age for pap testing from a medical standpoint. But when it's recommended to get your first varies. In the US, current guidelines are to have your first by age 21 or within 3 years of becoming sexually active, which ever is first.

Canada still nominally follows the old "age 18 or when you become sexually active" guideline. The UK, and some other European countries, set their recommended guideline for first pap at somewhere between age 21 and 25, depending on region.

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the info. :)

[archangelbeth]

I'd suggest getting your thyroid tested (along with any other tests that your doctor might think of) -- my irregular periods were never quite that sporadic, but menstrual problems are one of the symptoms of a wonky thyroid. (And don't let anyone tell you you're "too young" to have thyroid problems. After mine totally gave up the ghost, and I got diagnosed and treated, I realized that I'd been at least borderline hypothyroid since I was a teenager, and I mean early teenager.)

You probably also want to be checked for PCOS, which can sometimes hang out with thyroid issues, or show up on its own with insulin resistance and wonky periods.

Good luck!

[paperispatient.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, we "thyroid posted" at the same time. :D

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

I actually got my thyroid tested a week ago due to heart issues so there's no problems there! Thank you :)

[archangelbeth]

Oh, good! (Do you happen to know your numbers, by any chance? According to the most recent, anything over TSH 3 actually is considered hypo, but there are still doctors out there who go by old data... Just worth a double-check since the numbers ought to be around somewhere.)

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

I have absolutely no idea, I never get told the specifics. But, I'll be sure to find out just in case, thank you! :)

[paperispatient.livejournal.com]

Have you ever had blood work done for your thyroid? Hypothyoidism is a common cause of irregular periods - it's not a big deal at all, but if you haven't had blood work done lately it's worth mentioning the next time you're at the doctor. :)

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

Yup, just got a tonne of blood work done a week ago, and I got the all clear for my thyroid! :)

[yeshailey.livejournal.com]

i lost my period for 5 months due to eating issues as well. not nearly as long as you'd lost yours, but it took my body a good year to completely regular the cycle again. my guess is your body is doing the same, but taking much longer and being more sporadic because of how long you'd gone without a period. but i am no expert, just sharing my experience to try to help you out!

[daguerreotype.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing, I hope that this is the case. :)