I'm a 21 year old virgin. My doctor diagnosed me with poly-cystic ovaries when I was younger. I've always had an irregular period, but for the past year I had no period at all. I recently began to bleed again. The blood appears to have tissue in it and it is not a normal heavy period but random spotting. I can bleed really badly one day not have any blood for a couple of days then start spotting again. I gained weight until I was about 200 pounds, but lately I've been exercising and have lost about 10 pounds. Am I correcting my period with exercise? My doctors wanted me to take birth control, but I am afraid to take it. My family has a history of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks and I'm afraid I will have one of these side effects. This is really starting to bother me because I never know whether or not I should wear a pad or if I'm going to ruin another pair of underwear and I don't have the money to constantly wear pads to be sure I don't ruin my clothes. Also, I want to make sure it isn't something more serious.