Why have I always had irregular period?

[Holly2323]

I'm 17, I have irregular periods and have gone nearly a year without one in the past, I went to the doctor and he did a smeer test about a year ago and nothing showed up. I've also never had a sex drive and was unsure if this is related?

I am a virgin, healthy weight and eat a healthy diet.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
High level of stress, cholesterol, hormonal imbalance, chain smoking, exercise excess and faulty eating habits and dramatic changes in your life style may also be some of the common causes of your irregular periods.

However considering your age, PCOS is an important possibility to be ruled out.

Diagnostic tests are 2 hr GTT,serum androgen and testosterone levels,LH-FSH ratio,prolactin levels,TSH levels,17-hydroxyprogesterone levels  and 3D ultrasound done.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[Holly2323]

Thanks for the information. I'll be going to the doctors soon to get checked out. I was thinking the reason might be that when I was in school (I've finished school now) I would go the entire day without eating or drinking as I never liked eating around people so for 3 years I would go about 7 hours a day without food which would obviously have a very negative impact on my body and I also suffered alot of anxiety due to school so my body went through alot of stress. However since around October I've been at home and been eating healthy meals and only had 1 period since then which was in January but do you think maybe it'll take longer for my body to regulate periods again due to not eating during school?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to secondary amenorrhea. Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman who has had normal menstrual cycles stops getting her monthly period for 3 or more months.

Causes of secondary amenorrhea include stress and anxiety, malnutrition, depression, overexercising, sudden weight loss or gain (obesity),thyroid disorders and hormonal imbalance due to polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS).Smoking is also associated with secondary amenorrhea. Sometimes tumors of the ovaries and brain may also cause absence of menstruation.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.