Persistent Missed Periods & Negative Pregnancy Tests: What Could It Be?

Question
I have recently came across a problem i haven't had a period since early march 2008 and it is now early June 2008 I have taken more then one urinal pregnancy test both home and hospital (was in car accident and they made me take urinal one, no blood test.) but everytime they come back negative. Before i go on it dose run in my family that we have to have a blood test because we don't show enough of HCG in our urine, but i have no insurance or medicaid. Now to proceed i have also gained about 60 lbs since Sept. of 2007 when i met my wonderful husband. i was just wondering what are your views on this?

Answer
Dear Rebecca,

Unfortunately, if your female family members have a history of requiring blood pregnancy tests to confirm pregnancies, I would suggest that is exactly what you will need to do in order to confirm or rule out a pregnancy. However, the weight gain may also be what is affecting your cycles. There are many various causes for amenorrhea (absence of periods) - pregnancy being just one. Others can be:
-Hormonal imbalances, which cause fluctuating levels of the hormones needed to support menstruation
-Emotional or physical stress / Depression
-Rapid weight loss or gain
-Change in diet
-Low body weight
-Obesity
-Frequent or strenuous exercise
-Cysts or tumors in the ovaries
-Thyroid or Pituitary dysfunction
-Certain medications or drug use
-Menopause OR Premature ovarian failure (menopause before age 40)
-Occasionally stopping birth control pills

The general recommendation is that if you miss three consecutive periods and pregnancy is not the reason, you should see your doctor so that a cause can be determined. More than likely your doctor will do a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG), which definitely is more conclusive than a urine test, to make sure that pregnancy is ruled out as an option.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda