Ok, so I am new here, my name is Jamie and I am 21 years old. I know, most of you are all think what is a 21 year old doing here in a menopausal forum, well the reason is this. I last had my period in very early jan 04, up until this morning, when i woke up with it. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced going for more than a year without their period and then bam, getting it unexpectedly. The reason I am so confused is that I was told that once 12 months passes by that you have not gotten your period you become menopausal, so does that mean that I am menopausal at 21? I am seeing a gyn at the end of march, I have had this appointment for a month now. Is it common for young women to experience this. I am not complaining that I did not get my period for 13/14 months because it was a relief, but somewhere in the back of my mind I sit here and ponder if something else is going on. I tried to get pregnant in Dec 03, with no success. and had my period shortly after trying. I have also been diagnosed with the BRCA2 gene mutation, and for thoes of you who don't know what that is, its a cancer causing gene mutation of the ovaries and breasts. If anyone has any comments or advice, please let me know.
Thanks
Jamie

First of all, I know nothing about "BRCA2 gene mutation" or how it would affect your cycles but I did miss many periods when I first went off the pill to try & get pregnant. I wasn't ovulating. Finally got straightened out & had 2 beautiful boys ... even tho it took awhile.

Good luck & hopefully someone with much more knowledge than I will respond.

Jamie, some girls are too thin (like Olympic gymnasts) to get a period. Are you very thin? I would definitely go to the doctor. They can give you something to bring it on, even if you don't want it!

Periods can stop through all sorts of things, even stress. Have you started college... had some upset in your life recently? All these things can cause it.

Who told you about this gene? Surely it only needed to be recorded on your medical notes. I mean, you could get knocked down by a flying pig next week but you don't really need to know in advance. How long ago were you told this? Has it worried you since?

I began having missed periods in my mid 30's, then they came back regular as clockwork. Two years ago, they disappeared again for a year, back for 3 straight months (thought I was surely going to bleed to death!) now have disappeared again. Best advise I can give you is locate a gyn doc you feel comfortable with and one who has specific experience dealing w/menopause. It took me 3 tries to get a good one who happens to be middle aged female and it made a huge difference!

Best wishes!

I don't think the being too thin problem someone has mentioned has anything to do with this long amenorrhea you've experienced.

I never weighed more than 95 pounds (and sometimes as low as 89 pounds) from the time I was 15 until recently and never was irregular by even a day up until this past June.
I am 46 and weigh 100 now. Still too thin in most people's mind.

Good luck with your doctor. I hope they can help to regulate you and give you insight into what has caused this irregularity and confusion.