What can cause one to miss a period?

What you need to know:

  • That said, Uganda has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, although the cause of your daughter’s failure to get her period may be due to hormones, you should take her for a pregnancy test. In today’s world, where there are no aunts to teach girls sexuality, mothers should not fear talking to their daughters about sexuality as you seem to be doing.

I have been monitoring my 15-year-old daughter and have noticed that she has not had her period for three months. What do you think is the problem? Mukeeri

Dear Mukeeri,
Though girls can start periods as early as seven years, it is absolutely normal for others to start around 14 years and it is common for girls to have a few cycles and then none for a month or two, and then start again. Eventually, most girls settle into a pattern of having their periods about every 28 to 35 days with the flow lasting two to seven days.

That said, Uganda has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, although the cause of your daughter’s failure to get her period may be due to hormones, you should take her for a pregnancy test. In today’s world, where there are no aunts to teach girls sexuality, mothers should not fear talking to their daughters about sexuality as you seem to be doing.

How contraceptives work

I take a pill once a month to stop pregnancy. Are there any long term effects? Anita

Dear Anita,
For one to choose a contraceptive method, availability, cost, effectiveness and side effects are put into consideration. In a few circumstances, the frequency of taking doses is also considered the reason many Ugandans today are self-prescribing the Chinese once a month contraceptive pills despite not being aware of its side effects or effectiveness since the instructions are in Chinese.

The pills, which go by many names including the main one Sophia, are taken once every month. The Chinese contraceptives are on sale in many herbal clinics in the country yet they are not herbal but contain high doses of oestrogen and progestogen, (about 40 times more than those in conventional contraceptives).
The side effects of these pills apart from affecting the mothers may lead to children under the age of three having enlarged breasts and uteruses after their mothers use these contraceptives. Breastfeeding children may develop swollen feet, knock knees and stunted speech.

Mothers may report feeling pregnant all the time, while others may go into depression apart from an increased risk of blood clots, troublesome breakthrough bleeding, nausea, headaches, weight gain, and breast tenderness.
Since the contraceptives are sold in herbal clinics as herbal medicine, it is difficult to know whether all the pills contain chemicals and may have long-term effects or not.

My bum sweats during exercise

I am 25 years old. I love to exercise but I now fear to do so because my bum sweats a lot and it shows. Why is this so because I am not fat? Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
We sweat so that the body cools down but some people sweat in excess of the need to cool down. Over sweating (Hyperhidrosis), can affect just one specific area (such as the face, palms, soles of feet, groins or armpits) or the whole body.
In your case, the condition may be present from birth or might develop later in life, especially during your teens and is usually blamed on overactive nerves and genetics hence being difficult to stop completely.

For some, the effects of hyperhidrosis may be so severe that it becomes embarrassing, but over sweating bums can also cause lots of discomfort and anxiety with one fearing venturing out in public like is happening to you.
Excessive sweating, can be a warning sign of thyroid problems, diabetes or infection requiring these to be checked out. Excessive sweating is also more common in people who are overweight or out of shape and therefore you should continue with your exercises possibly switching over to swimming which will not show excessive sweating!
You need to avoid caffeine and much as overdressing can worsen matters, using bum liners can absorb sweat so it does not wet the clothes which may start to smell.