DD's periods changing; more frequent

[April Walker]

They were every month, pretty regular. Now since February, it has been 21 days, then 19 days. It lasts a week. Nothing else is different.

 

She is 17 1/2. She started her period at 12. She is a 2nd semester Freshman at college (away through the week, home on the weekends). I think it is stress and lack of sleep. (Also lack of nutrition because she complains endlessly about the cafeteria food.) She does not want to see a doctor, and I think if it keeps up, she will have to. How long do I wait and track it before insisting she see a doctor?

 

Also, I'm afraid they will try to put her on birth control pills, which I don't want. I think unnecessary hormones aren't so good.

 

Is there anything natural she can take to help her? I read the posts on red raspberry leaf tea. I'm sure she would take that in pill form if I told her to.

 

April in TX

[KidsHappen]

My 19 year had periods every three weeks from the time she started until she got pregnant (8 years). As far as I can tell, it has had no effect what-so-ever and obviously she was still fertile.

[keptwoman]

My cycle changed to 21 days after I had my first child. 28 days is the average, to be shorter or longer is within the range of normal. Very, very tiresome, but normal.

[Starr]

Good description above, tiresome but normal.

[Tap]

Does she take a multivitamin? If not, have her start. Even just a kids gummy style if that is all you can get into her.

 

Could she be irregular to to cycles of the girls at school? Does she have a roommate with a 21 day cycle?

[Rosie_0801]

Try a chiropractor. :)

 

Sometimes cycles go funny just because they do. My mother knew someone who had a ten day cycle :eek:

 

If your daughter's lower back is out of alignment, it can mess with her cycles.

 

Rosie

[abbeyej]

Will she be coming home at the end of the semester? I would probably wait 'til then and see if a month of healthy food and sleep patterns (and a little less stress) help her even out again. I don't think this is panic-worthy. And then maybe schedule a check-up a little later in the summer (so you'll have an idea whether or not lifestyle changes have helped).

 

I'd also make sure she was getting a good multivitamin. I like this one from Rainbow Light 'cause it's food-based and it also includes vitex and other herbs that support good hormonal function.

[Dobela]

I agree that good nutrition and exercise can make all this go away. If her cycles begin getting heavier, or more painful, then I would schedule an appt with an ob/gyn. It could be early signs of cycts or endometriosis as well.

[Chaqar]

I always had short cycles (21-23 days) as a teen. After having babies they would lengthen for a while and then shorten again. I ovulate very early in my cycle which, as I understand, is a sign of high levels of estrogen. Is she getting too many hormones from milk?

 

I have always been very fertile and have never had any problems with cysts/endo., so I wouldn't think that it is necessarily a problem--just an annoyance! Also, I eat a balanced diet. I have had short cycles during periods of stress and periods of relative ease.