6 months with no periods - what to ask the GP?

[blondieminx]

I'm hoping one of you clever lovely ladies might be able to help advise... Sorry this is such a long post but I have tried to give as much info as possible!

I came off the pill at New Year so I could start TTC with hubby, and have not had a period since January (which was just the normal withdrawal bleed). Since then, nothing at all.

I was on Dianette which I was on originally for my skin, and then stayed on because other pills gave me migraines.

I'm 29, eat healthily and take moderate exercise. I weigh 9 stone and I'm 5 foot 6". I have been taking Pregnacare since October but am not taking any other supplements. I had a short course of acupuncture in January to try and kick start things after coming off the pill.

I went to the GP in March who said to relax, be patient and hope that things settle down and if still nothing in June then to go back. She also said to do a test each month just in case. Did one today and it was a BFN. Well, here we are in June and still no periods (although I have had skin flare ups over the last few months and some mood swings, all of which is making me worry about PCOS).

I want to get on with TTC and so I'm making an appointment to go back to the GP but I'm not sure what tests I should ask for. Having read though some other threads it seems like some tests have to be done at a certain point in your cycle (and at well over 100+ days as at right now I'm thinking eeeek! )

Can anyone help me with suggestions as to what tests I should be asking the GP for? Thanks!

PS - I have been on 2 holidays since Christmas (kept thinking it'd be sods law my period would turn up while I was away... but nope!)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Blondie,

As your periods are this irregular you can actually have a blood test done according to calendar days. You can have a blood test done on the 3rd day (which is to compare LH and FSH levels against each other) and have a day 21 test to measure progesterone.

LH and FSH are very important hormones as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these are awry (and I would think these are in your case) then ovulation will be affected. Progesterone is measured later on in the month around the 21st day. This would show whether ovulation has occured or otherwise.

I would certainly return to the GP asap and be persistant with them. If the GP is not willing and or able to do a blood test I would ask for, nay insist, on a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit. Infact in your case I'd be asking for a referral and let the hospital do the blood tests under their supervision.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost - if PCOS is the root cause then you may need assistance from a gynae subfertility unit in order to conceive.

BTW Dianette is also often given to women who present with PCOS as it has anti androgenic qualities.

www.verity-pcos.org.uk is a website you may also find helpful if you are diagnosed with PCOS.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Good luck

Attila

[soosy]

Blondiemix, D21 progesterone test a bit difficult if you are not getting any periods, But FSH and LH hormone tests will give a good indication of PCOS. If GP thinks that PCOS is maybe the culprit, you may be referred to a gynae, or an assisted conception unit. You may be prescribed Clomid, a drug which basically makes you release a huge amount more FSH so that you ovulate. Don't worry yet. I have several friends diagnosed with PCOS who have had children with help and then gone on to have another one very quickly afterwards naturally! Good luck

[blondieminx]

Thanks ever so much for the quick replies Attila & Soosy. I have a GP appointment booked for tomorrow just before lunchtime so I will ask for FSH and LH blood tests to be done then. If they can do blood tests according to calendar days then I guess there's no reason why I can't have a blood test for FSH &LH done tomorrow and then a follow up for the progesterone 18 days after. Thank you for being so clear and for reassuring me that I'm not being neurotic what I'm experiencing isn't routine. I'd got myself into a bit of a state ...The BFN I had today wasn't a surprise but it still made me cry.

I first logged onto Mumsnet when I started TTC in January and joined one of the TTC waiting rooms - compared to everyone else I could see my cycle length ticking up. It took me a while to bite the bullet and realise that things were not settling down of their own accord (I kept thinking that after over 10 years on the pill maybe that was why it was taking so long for my periods to come back!) and that I really should go back to the GP asap...But by that time I'd read a few horror stories on here about people being fobbed off and having to wait ages for their tests etc. I wanted some advice so that I can go in and ask for the tests I need (without sounding vague) and so thank you for getting in touch, you've helped me a lot. I will post again when I have had my appointment. Thanks again

[choccypig]

Have you had your thyroid function checked. My sister had some similar symptoms to yours, including the lack of periods, and was later found to have an underactive thyroid.

[blondieminx]

Not as yet - but will ask for that to be done as well! Thanks Choccy.

[blondieminx]

So, have just come back from my appointment. The doctor was very good and I have just been given blood tests for FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone and thyroid. I've also been referred for an ultrasound scan next week - and have a gynae referral for in 3 weeks time. They also said they may as well test DH to check his swimmers so I have a little pot waiting here for him!

All in all it's a really huge weight off my mind to see that they are taking me seriously and doing lots of tests to try and work out what exactly has gone wrong with me, I was starting to really stress myself out about failing as a woman and being a disappointment to the family (who keep asking when DH and I are going to have kids now we've been married for a few years!).

Huge thanks again to Attila, Soosy and Choccypig for their advice last night

[blondieminx]

Just a little update... Well after 2 borderline blood tests a third came back to show an underactive thyroid. I've been on medication for 6 weeks now. I had a very light period in July but nothing since - but lots of BFN's (the GP said to test each month just in case) - am feeling quite down about it all

Internal ultrasound came back normal and the gynae tried to blame my weight for lack of periods (errrr with a BMI of 20 that's not really underweight!).

Have got a blood test to check my thyroid medication's working ok this week, so I'm going to ask the GP to refer me to a different gynae for a 2nd opinion I think.

Thought I'd post, in case anyone else out there has/is going through the same thing.

[Glimmer]

Hi Blondie,
Thanks for the update. I had no periods for months (for entirely other reasons), so know how distressing it can be when you want TTC.
I think a second opinion is a good idea. Sorry, am of no help but wish you good luck!

[Tigresswoods]

Hello blondieminx, you have a VERY similar situation to me:

Was on Dianette

Came off at new year

No periods (to speak of!)

TTC #1

Under (!) the Dr atm

I went to him about 6 weeks ago with all the facts. We are currently testing for PCOS. Had an internal (no big deal) and am waiting for the results but nurse who did it says it looks like I have poly cystic ovaries. Had to have a blood test (hate this!) and was important to have it at the right time in my cycle. As I don't have a cycle atm I just went and had it anytime.

Have since been to Dr for results (blood test in, internal not) and he said as I am young and have not been TTC for a year yet they are going to do more tests to rule stuff out.

So.... had a clap test- waiting on results but confident that nothing amiss there. Also said I will have to have another blood test (not thrilled about this) to make sure no rubella.

Then when it has been a year I can be refered and YES- maybe try some clomid.

Personally I think I am a cut and dry case. Spots like a 14 year old, too much excess body hair, no periods and family history or problems conceiving! Hello.

At the moment still in the upbeat, positive phase.

Did lots of tests earlier in the year but have since stopped as if not ovulating then not going to get preggers.

I know there is a small chance that I can/will so just watching what I drink, being a aware of symptons but not obsessivly so.

Hey, were young, loads of time. You'll get there.

:-)

[blondieminx]

That's what I love about MN, that someone, somewhere out there will be going through the same!

Glimmer thanks for your kind words! It's daft, everyone else on this board is hoping AF disappears for 9 months, I actually want her to show up so I know my system is starting to work normally!

Tigresswoods Thanks for posting - like you say our situations are quite similar! Good luck with the blood tests, I know they're not nice but at least when you're having them the doctors are actively doing something to try and get to the bottom of what's going on! I hope they have some good news for you soon.

I have now been told I've got to up my thyroid meds - so when I go back in 6 weeks for the repeat blood test at the new level I will ask to be referred for a second opinion (if I haven't had a period by then).

[Claire236]

I came off Cerazette almost 12 weeks ago & haven't had a period since. I got results from blood tests for thyroid, FSH, LH etc last week & all were normal. I've got to wait 4 weeks then my GP will refer me to a gynae. I've become pretty obsessed so hate to think how you must feel having waited months.

[blondieminx]

I have news, I got my period AT LAST! After 2 weeks of the increased thyroid meds it finally appeared, woo hoo!! My hubby is going to be a busy boy in 10 days time .

Claire did they test your thyroid antibodies too? If not then go back and request that they do this for you NOW. It was only after they did the thyroid antibodies and the T4 test and compared the levels that they worked out my thyroid was dodgy, the pill must've been "masking" the problem all this time. Good luck and I hope they manage to sort you out soon!

Choccypig was spot on and I'm hugely grateful to her as without her post I wouldn't have asked for a thyroid test [grateful beaming smile icon!]

[Glimmer]

Great! Good luck! I know if feels great to at least be able TTC!

[GemmaLuisa]

Hi girls,

Hope you don't mind me posting but I think I'm in the same boat- 2 years down the line after coming off the POP I haven't had a period. I am desperate for a baby. I have had all the blood tests, taken clomid (didn't work but had hideous side effects), just had a general anesthetic and laparoscopy and dye (all clear), and now I'm starting HCG injections next month. The doc hasn't found out what the cause is, they're just trying to make me ovulate. I asked why I'm not and they said they never usually find out, they just deal with the ovulation problems. I'm feeling like they should look into it as I seem to be being fobbed off or forced into treatment I don't want. Did you have any symptoms to make you think your thyroid was underactive?? I really want it checked now!!!

[blondieminx]

Hi GemmaLuisa,

If they haven't already tested you for thyroid disfunction then get them to do it now. Ask them to look at:
(i) thyroid function;
(ii) "T3"; and
(iii) thyroid antibodies

It wasn't until these tests were done that they realised there was a problem. After 2 weeks on the higher strength pills all of a sudden my period turned up. And at least the thyroid tests are just a blood test, it sounds like you've had to endure quite a lot of prodding and poking about recently you poor love.

To answer your q, I didn't have any really obvious symptoms of a thyroid prob (apart from the missing periods) but now I'm on these pills I do feel more energetic than I did before.

I really hope you get some answers soon, keep us posted with how you get on? And good luck!