confused and slightly worried

[c-bowman13.livejournal.com]

well im very new to this site and im really not sure how to work it yet.. i am hoping im in the correct place to ask this question. if im in the wrong place i am going to apologize ahead of time. anyway on to the question. im 17 and i have yet to start my period. im not sexually active or anything yet and im wondering if i should be concerned... anyone i have told i have gotten the "dropped jaw" reaction lol and i have not thought much of it until now. so should i be worried? and yes i know i should go to the doctor to find out if anything is wrong, but my family can not afford if right now. so if there is any advice or whatever that anyone can provide until i can go to the doctor it would be greatly appreciated. 

Comments

[napalmtheory.livejournal.com]

I would schedule an appointment with a doctor at the local Planned Parenthood/Health Clinic. They will see you on a sliding scale for payment, if they make you pay at all.

[c-bowman13.livejournal.com]

ok thank you i will check it out

[dindin.livejournal.com]

I agree. If there's no Planned Parenthood near you, you can find a health center run by your county/city/state that will not cost much or anything. It's worth having a look at.

[gaia61.livejournal.com]

not starting at 17 is certainly within the range of "normal" - but it would probably be a good idea to get an exam - things that might influence when you start would be your weight (are you very thin?), physical activity (athlete?), heredity (when did your mom or sisters start their periods?) If money is an issue you may want to check out Planned Parenthood or free clinics in your city/town.

Hope that helps.

[c-bowman13.livejournal.com]

no im not very thin im actually a bit chubby but not to far from average based on my height and all of that... no im not to active i dont exercise much i just quit my job at a animal hospital which was nothing but walking to and from and at work so i got all that i needed then but then we moved and i had to quit which is better because im a photographer and starting a company so i was thinking it may be stress? but im not to stressed out i dont think.. and heredity everyone in my family started around 15 or so...

[grrl-cake.livejournal.com]

Tbh it's not *that* uncommon, I'm jealous of any girl who has gotten to a certain age without getting her period!
If it's a concern I'd definitely see a doctor, though. They can check you out.

[c-bowman13.livejournal.com]

haha yeah thats what i have always said :P " i dont want kids i hope it never comes less for me to deal with" lol.. and its true i just dont want to have something really wrong so i will go get checked soon enough

[goingdriftless.livejournal.com]

I agree with several of the above posters. I'd look for a local clinic or Planned Parenthood (Planned Parenthood would be especially good to go to since they deal primarily with reproductive health.) who will see you on a sliding scale. You can even check into being seen at a county clinic -- most counties will provide some sort of free medical care if you fit certain income requirements (since you're 17, it'd be your parents' income). Check your county's website.

But, I personally think this ought to get checked out. You may want to have them check for polycystic ovary syndrom (PCOS) and hypothyroidism, both of which can both delay the onset of menstruation and can mess it up once it's started.

[pumpkin-master.livejournal.com]

I definitely think you should get it checked out too, though it's likely nothing serious. You'll just know what's causing it, is all.
I didn't start until I was 14 and I remember my mom & grandmother freaking out about that so I can imagine the reactions you get.
I second the P.P./clinic idea.

[suicidekitty911.livejournal.com]

I would definitely be finding a doctor. My mother was concerned when mine hadn't started by 16, so took me to her gyno and for the next three years i was poked and prodded and tested in just about every capacity. dr was concerned i had a tumour on my pituarity gland, or that maybe i was born without proper reproductive organs. a laparoscopic surgery found that i had the proper organs, but they had ceased growth for some reason when i was about 6. soooo i finally started seeing a reproductive endocrinologist and drugs got my period started when i was 19.
i'm just about to turn 29 and i've never had a period with using hormone drugs. this is both good and bad. i'm completely infertile and have to use expensive drugs if i want any hope of concieving. i have osteoporosis (was diagnosed at 23) because of the lack of hormones. what has happened to me is something that happens in like, 1 percent of the population or something, so i'm not trying to freak you out - just be aware that there could be something more going on than not starting your period yet.
you could most definitely just be late bloomer. it happens a lot. :)

[bellabrigida.livejournal.com]

My cousin had problems. She'd been bleeding internally because she had something wrong with her hymen/vaginal opening. As is said, it's totally not common. But it's better to find this stuff out sooner than later.

[suicidekitty911.livejournal.com]

absolutely. had it not been for my mom's insistence, i would never have had a normal life.