Missed periods, 16-year-old

[LeafyFern]

My daughter has missed three periods. She's been pretty regular since she was 13... She had a bit of exam stress with GCSEs and has lost a little weight over the past year, probably a few kg, so I'm thinking it's probably this. (She's at the lower end of the healthy weight range for her age and height).
There's no way she could be pregnant, no boyfriend and I have talked to her about this.
I'm going to get her a GP appt but just wondering if anyone had advice?

Do a pregnancy test anyway.

Pregnancy test. then gp.

Weight loss definitely will have an impact, her body may have gone into starvation and stopped periods as a way of reserving energy. At her age she shouldnt be losing kgs of weight. Any signs of an eating disorder?

Weight loss most likely if you don't think it's pregnancy and the periods won't have stopped so don't worry - they will be paused until the weight stabilises. Worth speaking to the doctor about it anyway

@Littleguggi She felt she wanted to lose a little weight and did so quite gradually. She often misses breakfast as she doesn’t like it, has lunch at school and eats a healthy evening meal. She doesn’t refuse cake / pudding or anything like that.
She is very conscious of her appearance but I’m satisfied she’s eating well… apart from missing breakfast, which I’m trying to change.

I don't understand why you haven't bought her a pregnancy test yet? They are cheap and easy to use. You literally just pee on a stick.

Do you know her height and weight? Check both and work out her BMI. (I don't know if it's accurate for 16yos but it'll give you an idea.)

You need to rule out pregnancy and check her height and weight before requesting a GP appt. She might need blood tests to check her hormone and iron levels etc.

She is very conscious of her appearance but I’m satisfied she’s eating well

I'm just thinking along the ED lines, as missed periods are symptomatic of quite a dramatic weight loss, and ruling out pregnancy, without wanting to sound dramatic... Is it at all possible she could be bulimic? Appearing to eat normally but secretly throwing up? Sorry. Probably not but just a thought.

Because I know my daughter and she says it’s impossible! She’s not had a boyfriend or any sexual relationship.

The GP will get her/you out of the room in record time if there isn't a negative pregnancy test waved in front of them.

Just going through this with DD, and blood tests have identified thyroid issues. Waiting to hear on results of stool samples - far worse than changing nappies 😂

I assumed restricting food and low body weight. And of course possibly pregnancy.

Go to your GP. There can.be any number of reasons, don't jump to conclusions.

If they are any good they won't. There are any number of reasons for menstrual irregularities.

Yes, it needs to be considered as a possibility. But a decent GP will be aware that there are other possibilities as well.

Ok, I take the point. Will get her one tomorrow.

My daughter had this at 14, along with weight loss, 3 years after starting regular periods. The doctor insisted on a pregnancy test before anything else so you might as well get your daughter to do one because it's the first thing they'll ask. She had blood tests (put on some vitamin supplements) and referral to a gyne consultant but periods came back before anything was found. She went 6 months without and now they've come back as regular as before.

Still no idea what the cause was, but it's been several months now and no more problems.

DD's Dr didn't start with a pregnancy test. Maybe because we went in for low energy and semi fainting, and when she said she had stopped her periods I asked if she could be pregnant and offered to leave the room (she had asked me to come with her).

The Dr set up blood and stool tests. No pregnancy test. The blood tests came back with thyroid issues.

Of course ask your DD if she could be pregnant, but if she says not then take that as an answer. She will be more likely to confide in you if you are open about the possibility but don't jump to conclusions.

My foster daughter was pregnant at 15! So I am not naive. But keep an open mind.

I have ARFID (type of eating disorder) as a teen when my weight dropped I didn't get periods, stress during GCSE made it worse and I didn't have a period for over a year :( so it can really impact them.

I would do a Pregnancy test just so the doctor can confidently dismiss it and focus on the issue at hand..just speeds things up for you both.

My sister got herpes.

My first thought was that obviously her husband had cheated on her.

My family took great care to explain to me that you could get herpes via kissing. She knew he hadn’t cheated on her.

Cut to three years time, she found him cheating on her.

While we always want to think the best of our family members, sometimes it is worth considering the most obvious answer.

A GP will want to rule out pregnancy so she needs to do a test. Unless her weight loss has been significant over a short period of time then unlikely to be related. She may have PCOS

Yes, I take your point… but I know my daughter would be beside herself with anxiety if there was any chance on earth she could be pregnant. She’s an intelligent girl and she understands how it all works.
As it is, she’s mildly concerned, wondering what it could be. I am more worried than she is.
But anyway, I will get a test for her so we can tell the GP she’s done it.

My dd started dropping periods then they completely stopped at 17. Skinny (always has been, from her dad), eats like a horse, no exercise other than walking to school and back.

No pregnancy test required from the GP - did a full panel of blood tests.

Turns out she has a pituitary tumour.

Get to the gp op and ask them to check her out - this kind of thing can have a big effect on reproductive health.

Sorry to hear that @BloodyAdultDC
I hope your daughter is doing OK? That must have been a big shock.

You say your dd is eating healthily. But is she eating enough? If her periods have stopped, it’s important to ascertain why and get her to eat more now whilst also investigating possible causes in case this is more than nutritional deficit.

Will your dd eat more?

Stress can raise prolactin and that can inhibit ovulation/periods. Ask to have her level checked at the GP

I really hate to say this, but there is a tiny and awful possibility that she might have been raped without her knowledge. Obviously very rare and unlikely.

People are raising the OP's anxieties unnecessarily! More than likely it is stress related or low weight related. Obviously good to keep an open mind but I am sure OP knows her child best

That wasn't my intention, I'm sorry. It's just that a GP will want to rule out pregnancy as PPs have said.

I had to take a pregnancy test before getting my coil fitted even though I told them there was no way I could be pregnant (I hadn't had sex in months.) I had no reason to lie or hide anything but still had to take the test.