15 year old and missed period

[LaDamaDeElche]

My DD hasn't had a period this month. This hasn't happened before, although like a lot of teenagers it's been out of synch by a few days quite frequently over the years. She isn't sexually active, so no chance of pregnancy. She is taking meds for ADHD which do suppress her appetite, although we have got more on to of this by making sure she loads up on calories at night and at the weekend as well as taking supplements to replace any nutrients she may be missing.

My question is, as this has happened just once, would you make a doctor's appt or just wait and see how things go for a couple of months?

She seems pretty unbothered and told me her friends get irregular periods from time to time too. My worry is that she's had her period since year 5 of primary, so I thought this was only common in the first two/three years of starting periods. Also, she's been on these meds for a 1.5 years and this hasn't happened before, although she is taking breaks during holidays and at weekends, due to the lack of eating, which is the only difference.

You mention eating, is her weight low and fluctuating, that could stop her period.

I always had irregular periods when I wasn't on hormonal contraception, right up to the menopause.

It's a blasted nuisance not knowing when your period will start, but in my case it didn't indicate any health problems.

Get her to see a doctor if you want, but try not to worry. It really can just be one of those things.

I'd not be concerned about one missed period at that age when you say her cycle fluctuates a bit anyway. If she's lost weight though and is now underweight that can suppress them so that's worth considering for sure.

Nah its fine.

I mean if its not pregnancy then a missed period (assuming no other symptoms) is hardly a bad thing. Unless it's indicative of extreme stress or malnutrition.
Just a lucky month!

She's slim, but not in the underweight range. I get extra calories in by giving her protein shakes and smoothies either full fat milk, so I don't think her calorie intake is dangerously low, or anything like this.

Thanks everyone. Seems like I'm stressing over nothing. I'll leave it and if she misses next month too we'll go and see the doctor just in case it is to do with the meds.

if I recall correctly its 3 missed periods and a neg preg test that triggers an investigation, unless there are other things awry as well. But at this age with slightly irregular periods its not unusual to skip or for it to arrive later.

Get her to track on an app so you have evidence etc.

For me it would depend on whether it's late or missed. How many days past expected period is she? Could be anything from stress to physical health. One wouldn't overly concern me but I'd be looking at other factors that are going on - how are things in school? She's hitting GCSE years so can be stressful, fallout with friends or other stressors.

If you're concerned maybe speak to practice nurse or GP but prepare her for them to do a pregnancy test anyway - I had to take one years ago despite being very clear there was no possibility of pregnancy. It also wouldn't be bad to rule it out indefinitely regardless of how much trust and openess is in your relationship it can be hard to talk about sex with your parents.

We have an app so am tracking. Her last period finished on 29th September.

We don't live in the uk, so no GCSEs. Definitely not stress, she's a very "live in the moment" type of person. On the app it says she 16 days late.

She's barely a week late by your calculations- isn't it a bit quick to say she's missed a period?

I'd do a pregnancy test anyway.
My mum would have sworn on our lives I wasn't sexually active until I was 18.
I lost my virginity at 14. Just check.

DD's are often late or early. Usually in time to screw up a holiday or other event! She is an "over sharer" so used to keep me regularly informed of every detail.

I once randomly missed an entire period when I was 18 - next one came when it would have if the missed one had happened. I was sexually active so was a bit scared, but tests were negative. I was quite thin at the time, but I don’t think I was underweight. I’m in my 40’s now and it has never happened again (outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding). Who knows why these things happen, they just do sometimes.

Has she had a nasty cold, covid or another virus around the early-mid October time? I sometimes miss periods when I've been ill as I don't ovulate when ill. Figured it's some type of evolutionary thing.

No, nothing like that.

She's not sexually active. We are very open about those kinds of things and have talked about getting contraception when the time is right. She hasn't even kissed a boy yet, so would be a big jump to being pregnant.

Her period was due on the 22nd October, so a couple of weeks. It's unusual for her to be this late. The most has been three days either way before.

DD's always seem to correspond with those things too. She doesn't want to wear tampons and we live in Spain, so the summer is always a nightmare!!

It wouldn't even cross my mind to see a GP over a missed or late period. I was so surprised when the internet chat/forums got going and I learned that people do this. I understand if there are concerns it's a symptom of something deeper, but one missed period, I'm sure the GP will just say come back if it doesn't appear. Even if it is to do with her meds, they still won't do anything, presumably the ADHD meds are priorities regular periods?

I still miss my period from time to time for no apparent reason - no stress, weight loss etc. As a previous poster said, usually it's 3 missed periods and neg pregnancy test that means you should visit a doctor

Probably wouldn't mine either if I had a teen who wasn't on meds and didn't have the secondary effects of eating very little etc. it does make you more worried. Not wanting to drip feed but she's already had to take iron pills for anemia in the past, so yes, I probably would go to the doctors before other parents for peace of mind. I'll hold off for a couple of months and see if it sorts itself out.