I am 17 years old and getting ready to trun 18 this july. i have prader-willi syndrome and i haven't started my period. is this a problem?

Hormonal: Many of the problems with prader-willi involve abnormal hormonal levels. You may not be ovulating yet, as many young ladies with your disorder also have pcos. You may want ot talk with your endocrine doc about hormones that may make you cycle or about drugs like metformin, especially is you are overweight with your disorder, to help you cycle. It's only a prolblem if you want ot get pregnant.

Women with PWS often: Don't have periods on their own or have irregular periods after age 16. At least 2 pregnancies have been reported. Genetic counseling is important for any woman with pws contemplating pregnancy. The pws support group at http://www.Pwsausa.Org/ can help find an endocrinologist to evaluate you & do blood tests to tell if sex hormone therapy may help & discuss the pro's & con's of such therapy.

Hypogonadism : People with pws are usually unable to go through puberty without hormonal supplementation. Hypogonadism is part of the syndrome as the hypothalamic/pituitary axis doesn't function properly. Gh deficiency also common. Most pws patients are under the care of an endocrinologist at one time or another. Pediatric endocrinologists have a lot of experience with this.