Menstrual problems and fibromyalgia - Fibromyalgia Message Board

reff · 06-22-2006, 04:00 PM

I've read about fibromyalgia causing menstrual problems, but I was wondering if it could be connected to periods stopping completely?

I used to have the worst time every month, a lot of pain, cramps etc. Because of this when I was about 14 I was put on the contraceptive pill to try and help. I continued having regular periods whilst on the pill for years, it never helped that much but anything was better than before. Then I one day decided I wasn't going to take it any more, and stopped. It took me a year for my periods to return after this, but after that year they came back 'normal' and regular for a few months as pre-pill.

Then my fibromyalgia got a LOT worse and my periods stopped simultaneously. This was about 6-7 months ago, and i've not had another since. Do you think this could have been caused by the stress of increased fibro symptoms? Oh and it's medically impossible for me to be pregnant!

It just worries me a bit, being 20, being a bit thin, and pretty inactive and weak, that i'll end up with osteoporosis one day. Do you think it'd be best to ask my doctor to put me back on somekind of pill or just keep trying to de-stress and see what happens? Or does it sound like another medical issue entirely?

elmhar · 06-23-2006, 09:42 AM

Hi Reff,

I think it would be best for your doc to run a battery of hormonal tests before putting you on just any old pill to induce periods. Hormonal problems are not infrequently intertwined with fibromyalgia, and in many cases are the root cause of the suffering. In addition, your concerns about osteoporosis are justified. At age 20, bone density in females is still increasing, with the help of estrogen.

In addition to the "female hormones" a doc might be prone to ck., IMO adrenal function & thyroid as well should be scrutinized thoroughly.

IME, it's impt NOT to play the "maybe it's stress-induced ?" card up front when asking the doc for testing. They use that wild card to trump women all the time. And, while it's possible for your symptoms to be stress-induced, a truly scientific approach would rule out other causes first.

Best wishes.