PLEASE HELP! Confused by different advice from doctors and nurses!

[Floatingonacloud]

My periods, from the moment they began, have never regulated. When I do get them, they are very normal- not heavy, no cramps, I get a bit spotty leading up to them but that’s about it. The problem is that I don’t get them very often! I get a period every few months and then not again for another few months. I usually get 4-6 a year, 1-2 of which will be extremely extremely light and not even a proper period- basically just brown/grey gunkey discharge for a couple of days. I rarely get consecutive periods- they don’t follow a pattern and come every 2-4 months.

I get horrific headaches usually when I get my period but at other times sometimes too. I usually have to take cocodamol and go to bed to get relief from it. They come and go.

I’ve been to the doctors as a teen and was told it was normal as I was still going through puberty, but that’s definitely stopped now and i presume it should have regulated. I had a set of blood tests done as a teen which showed my hormones were fine so we’re not really sure what’s going on with my periods, but I’ve been reassured it’s nothing bad and everything is normal which obviously I’m happy with, and I have no reason not to believe my GP because they know way more about this than me!

But I have had so many different responses from different doctors or nurses and it’s made it so confusing and I don’t know what to think now!

I mentioned it to another doctor as part of an appointment for something else and he acted as if I was totally stupid and ridiculous and said obviously it’s not normal? But I’ve been told for so long that it is. He was quite abrupt (and rude) about it not being normal, but any other time I’ve mentioned it to medical staff they’ve said it’s just my normal and everyone is different. He just said oh ok and changed the subject.

One HCP said my period problems was caused by me being stressed which seemed plausible, but then another HCP dismissed this and said that would be temporary and wouldn’t account for the other decade of irregular periods.

I’ve been told to go on the pill or contraception to regulate it, but then someone else told me not to because it’s not finding or solving the problem about why the periods are so irregular.

I just don’t know what to believe or think anymore. My GP is great and if he says they’re normal then I’m happy to believe that, but so many other people have said it’s not and I’m so confused now. Some HCP are like stop worrying and being dramatic, this is just normal for you and there’s no need to check anything else, then others act as if I’m stupid for thinking it’s normal. I’m so confused!

just going to bump this in case anyone sees it!

Have you had a scan to check for PCOS ?

There are lots of stories on MN of people who only get 4-6 periods/year, and not because of PCOS, either. Maybe advanced search you'll find some others like you.

No, my blood tests were fine so they said it’s nothing like that.

I actually got an ultrasound as a check up for something else and it was completely clear thankfully but I don’t know if my overies got checked in it, I think it was more like gall bladder x

Thanks, I’ll have a look!

I had posted before about something else and mentioned my periods in that and I got some responses about going to the GP etc but anytime I’ve asked anyone medical about it I keep getting different answers about whether it’s normal or not, so decided just to start a thread to ask.

I’ve always been accepting of the fact it’s probably just normal for me, but after having other people (doctors and nurses) tell me it’s not, it’s made me so confused! I guess it’s one of those things that people will have different opinions on.

Anyway I’ll stop ranting, sorry! I’ll find the advanced search option and have a look, thanks again.

Hi OP. I was like this until I had children in my early-mid thirties. Often went for months (nearly a year once) without a period, and then they were often very light when I did have them.

Post children, my cycle seems to have become more regular, although generally still a 40 day (or more) cycle.

I did wonder at times whether there was something wrong with me, as it was quite unusual (at least among the girls and women I knew or read about). But I didn't have any other warning signs that anything was wrong, so I didn't investigate further.

Unless there are other reasons why it would be beneficial for you though, I wouldn't go on the pill just to get a more 'normal' cycle, as the pill can have unwanted side effects of its own.

I'm planning on going to the GP about this issue soon, however I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 22 via an ultrasound. Had my DD 2 years ago after coming off the pill, but for the past year they have been really irregular. Haven't had a period now for 4 months.

Hope you get some answers soon!

That’s really helpful thank you! I’m 100% sure I’m absolutely fine too but all the different advice had confused me so much, so it’s really reassuring that other people had similar and were absolutely fine!

Thank you very much, hope you manage to get some answers too and that it’s all ok! x

I could have written the above, almost exactly the same, although I was tested for PCOS in my late teens and all was fine. Had no issues falling pregnant despite the sporadic nature of my cycle. I did go on the pill though up until we started trying to conceive as I couldn't be doing with the constant uncertainly/ surprise aspect. Having children does seem to have kicked me into a more regular, yet still longer than normal cycle. So you are not alone, and I would go with the majority of the HCP you have spoken to and accept it is your normal!

Thank you that’s really reassuring! I think you’re right, it will just be normal for me! 😊

Gosh, OP, are you me? I could have written that, with the exception of the fact that mine are reasonably regular. The short, gunky, barely there, horrific headaches only helped by cocodamol, that’s all the same. Never an explanation for it from anyone.

Have you had children? I’ve been told that with such light periods it would be hard to sustain a pregnancy and I’ve had several miscarriages.