Irregular cycles

i know that a women's cycle is different from female to female, but is it normal to have it only every 2-6 months kinda randomly. while talking to a friend she was saying how irregular she was and i said she should just have everything checked out, and she asked why and the only reason i could give was "just cause it's not normal" (i'm only a first year nursing student)

so here is what i know: she is 20 has had her period only since she was 15, it was never regular (2-4 months) but it is more random in the last year or 2. she said it can be really light from only a day or 2 to so heavy that she has to change the super plus tampon every hour. she never used to have cramps or anything and now some "cycles" can be so bad she can't get out of bed, and vomits from the pain (she's not a whimp either, the sporty person that you can't convince to stop playing even with broken bones).

so this all seems slightly odd to me and it seems that there should be a reason for all these symptoms. so i thought that if i could present some possible reasons for this i could help her want to see a doctor. part of me thinks that it is the fear of an uncomfortable pelvic exam that she is not wanting to go.

thanx, sr

sorry for the length

if for no other reason than the symptoms alone, that is the reason why she should be checked. she should have some extensive lab work done also. i'm not a rocket scientist, but i can read the writing on the wall.

:uhoh21:

it is true that a lot of women have irregular cycles. sometimes there is a issue behind it like stress, poorly managed diabetes, or anorexia. athletes are like this as well. if you go through any changes in weight gain or loss your period can stop for a time. usually in people that don't have irregular cycles it's due to pregnancy or an illness. i personally have very random periods and it is due to stress. i remember my first year at college i didn't have a period the whole first semester!

but back to your friend...if there is something wrong your body will let you know! even if you think you're okay changes will let you know otherwise. bad cramping, vomiting, and losing all that blood in such a short period of time (changing a super plus tampon every hour) definately says something is wrong. if she is going through that, that alone is reason to go to the er.

i don't know what's wrong with her and i wouldn't say because i'm not a doctor. but if your period gets in the way of your daily life she should go see a gynocologist. while fear can keep you from doing what's best i don't think she should wait a minute longer to see a doctor. women are supposed to have yearly exams anyway... it's not that bad a procedure. you should continue to urge her to see a doctor and remind her that the longer she waits the longer she will be in pain and misery and the longer her body will suffer. doctors and nurses are professional people and they have seen lots of body parts that we generally don't show to any and everybody. it wont take long (2 minutes) and it doesn't hurt.

yahoo health has really great general information on women's health. i would advise you and her to read it. but keep urging her to see a doctor...soon!!!

good luck!

I would get it checked out if it were me going through this. Seriously! Tell her answers for HER are not online. so---A simple answer to your question, "is this nomal?", is no. But is it a sign she is ill? Not sure. Hopefully not. But I would bet her hormonal balances are off-kilter. It could be thyroid problems...diabetes onset....pituitary issues....not sure. That is something a gynecologist and perhaps, an endocrinologist, need to check out. Especially if she wants to have a baby in the future, with cycles like these, it is unlikely she will conceive successfully on her own--- unless things are regulated out. Good luck to your friend!

Her symptoms sound like something along the lines of endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovarian syndrome. Either way, it's NOT normal and I agree with the other posters - she needs to see a doctor, get a pelvic exam, have labs done, and maybe even get a pelvic ultrasound.

As a PCOS sufferer myself, I can tell you that 10% of the female population in this country has some degree of this disorder, but the vast majority don't even know it. It's supposedly the #1 cause of infertility.

What your friend is experiencing does not sound normal. She needs to pay a visit to her ob/gyn first of all.

Her symptoms sound like something along the lines of endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

That is what I am thinking too...of course, I'm not an MD. But since I have endometriosis myself-I can understand the heavy bleeding, severe cramping and the nausea and vomiting from the pain.

PCOS is more common than people think...besides being a leading cause of infertility, it can lead to other health problems down the road if not detected and managed.

Sound just like my story. I was diagnosed with PCOS several months ago. She needs to see an endocrinologist. The symptoms can get worse if left untreated.