Medication + Menstruation

[bluesuitcase.livejournal.com]

The back story: I'm a 17-year-old, sexually inactive girl. My periods usually arrive every 28-35 days, and began about 4.5 years ago. They are extremely heavy and laden with upsetting cramps. I've been depressed for a little more than three years and have been on 50 mg of Zoloft for about one week. I have not experienced any side effects aside from decreased libido; the insomnia went away when I began taking the pill first thing in the morning.

The current woe: I have not gotten a period since March 2. This seems like a fairly long time, especially since my body should have more or less 'adjusted' by now. I have been wanting to get to a gynocologist anyway, since a] I have awful cramps, b] I'd like to know exactly when I'm getting my period by means of HBC, and c] my boyfriend of 2.5 years and I have decided to become sexually active once we enter college in the fall.

Have any of you lost your periods due to antidepressants or medication in general? It can't be due to emotional problems, since I've grappled with nothing new for the past few years. It can't be stress, since this has decreased in my life, nor weight loss, since I've only lost about 7% of my body mass over the course of a few weeks. Is it more important for me to alert my psychiatrist or mother about seeing a gynocologist? Thank you for the help!

On a related note...which antidepressants and HBCs have you find to best 'jive' together? For any Zoloft users out there, how have been your experiences with HBC? Thanks again!

Comments

[paulshrink.livejournal.com]

Anti-depressants should not affect your menstrual cycle, but it could be weight loss (even small changes can change hormone levels). It's a reasonable time for a gyn checkup, but no rush.

[starzysky.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, most researchers in obesity (not that you're obese, just that they're weight loss experts) consider a weight loss of 5-10% of the original body weight to be a clinically significant weight loss. Your loss of 7% falls in this range and could certainly disrupt your normal cycles...but it could definitely be the medication, too. Give it a bit of time :) If it doesn't come in another few weeks, you might want to see a gynecologist. As you mentioned, you might as well go anyway, so you can get on HBC!

IDK about HBC & antidepressants...but I tend to be a bit more depressed when I'm on the pill. (I don't take antidep's though)

[maggieb.livejournal.com]

i have been on antidepressants for 2.5 years. i noticed that it caused me to actually gain quite a bit of weight; and my periods became more irregular. I just started HBC and i'm hoping this will even things out.

It might just be the Zoloft. That can cause nasty side effects for some people ( i tried it and i was seriously ill for a whole week after only one pill). If you dont start feeling better, ask your doctor to try something different. It can also take up to a month for the pills to take full effect and you to feel more normal. good luck!!!