question for the ladies...TMI for the guys

well, for as far back as I can remember (though I've only been tracking through "mymonthlycycles" for the last 5 years or so to be able to say for sure) I've had a 37 day cycle just about like clockwork. I went to a 34 or 35 day cycle a handful of times. I'm trying to donate my kidney so about 4 months back I had to go visit the donor team at the hospital it would be done at for some testing (CT scan and renogram). 2 days later on day 28 of my cycle - bam - there it was. I figured something to do with one of the tests must have done something because I've rarely been early, period ('scuze the pun) let alone 9 days early. I hoped it was a one time thing because, quite frankly, my longer cycles are stinkin' convenient. Unfortunately the next month I was day 28 again. Oh no....is there a pattern developing?....the next month I barely spotted on day 28 and thought maybe I was switching back to my usual and it would come back full force in the next 9 days or so....nada. I'm now at about day 41 since that day and there's no sign of anything.

Alright....yeah, I would REALLY like to avoid going to the doctor. I've not yet had to have "the exam" because while I am 33 I have never been sexually active because as a Christian, my plan is to get myself hitched first and that hasn't happened as yet. I know there's a wackload of medical professionals who insist that once you hit your 20s you MUST have this done regardless of sexual activity or lack thereof, but there are also more and more medical professionals (including my own doctor) who disagree with that and say if you aren't having issues there is no reason to have it done if you're not doin' the deed (which would make sense, as I've read that the majority of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV...which you generally get from having sex). Unfortunately, if I had to go in for this it would count as an issue, and what's the first thing they'd be wanting to do? "Hop up on the table and spread 'em!". No thanks. Also, when you're 33, try convincing anyone in the health field that a pregnancy test would be a waste of everyone's time and resources. I'm sure that argument would just piss me off.

As for stress, that might make sense. Not so much for the donation testing as a rule....I've been at this for a year. But they do keep making me jump through insanely invasive hoops that, from what I hear, are NOT the usual....such as making me get a bone marrow biopsy a week and a half ago for blood counts that were so marginally below "normal" that the hematologist they had me consult with said he wouldn't have ordered it if it weren't for them. Considering local anaesthetic doesn't affect me (like 100% no numbing, but they never believe me...so they just keep pumping it in thinking I need more...which just prolongs the painful process because that crap stings and there's no numbing to take over) and I'm also apparently quite drug resistant in general (knowing the local wouldn't work and that they would refuse any alternatives because they wouldn't believe me, I popped 3 T3s and 2 Ativan beforehand, washing it down with some hard liquor since I read that should compound the effects....I might as well have saved the $20 on the prescription and popped some M&Ms for all the difference they made) that was hands down the most excruciatingly painful and drawn out (she took an hour and a half and several failed attempts for this "15 minute" procedure) experience of my life. Keeping in mind freezing has never worked - I've had 2 root canals, numerous stitches, tore the ligaments in my ankle and walked home on it, lodged a nail up under my knee cap and had chicken pox so bad they were on the inside of my eyelids....the pain of all these things combined can't begin to touch what she did to me......and then there were the comments like "isn't it funny how it's always the skinny ones who take the most freezing".....and "megan stop that. stop moving. you stop that right now. you're moving the needle. stop that" after I had been there for an hour of her digging with what felt like a steak knife and a melon baller and couldn't hold back the sobbing anymore.....I've barely been able to sleep and often have nightmares ever since. So perhaps it is the stress of THAT whole unnecessary event that has me messed up. On that note can such slight anemia cause this?

The only way to predict when your period will start is to know when you ovulated, which you would only know by taking basal body temperature. Your luteal phase should be the same number of days each cycle (it may fluctuate by a day, but is pretty consistent). So if you had clockwork cycles, it was because you ovulated on the same day each month. Given the amount of stress you've been under, I'd say it's highly likely that you had a delayed ovulation, and therefore this cycle will be longer. At least you don't have to worry about being pregnant! :-)

lol, yes at least there's that. Though I was talking to someone who has been trying desperately to GET pregnant and she said her specialist told her not having any P.M.S, cramping or any other of the usual "periods suck" sort of symptoms (which she has never had) is a good indication that you're NOT ovulating at all. Apparently she hasn't been....hence the not getting pregnant. I've never had any such issues either, so I wonder if I ovulate at all. I suppose I'd have to get that checked out, should I ever actually bait and catch me a husband and wish to procreate :P lol

I think you are being extremely ignorant. You said yourself that a pelvic exam becomes necessary when you are having "issues" regardless of sexual activity. You are having potentially very serious problems and it needs to be checked out. If they want to do a pregnancy test alongside their other procedures to completely rule it out, let them. It will not harm you. Not going to the doctor because you feel you shouldn't have to based on your sexual inactivity is completely ridiculous.

keyword being "potentially"....and the general consensus from everyone else seems to be that it's a little too soon to worry about it, so I guess we're all ignorant for thinking I don't need to jump to making an appointment for someone to check out my junk right this second.