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

[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. :)