What Is Amenorrhea Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Amenorrhea What Is Amenorrhea Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment and Prevention By Meryl Davids LandauMedically Reviewed by Kacy Church, MDReviewed: October 29, 2020Medically ReviewedAmenorrhea is the medical term for the absence of a menstrual period. In teenage girls, it describes someone who has not gotten her first period by age 16. For women who have previously menstruated, it refers to the absence of more than three consectutive menstrual cycles. (1) Amenorrhea is not a disease, but in some cases, it may be a symptom of another condition. It can occur in healthy women when they are pregnant, breastfeeding, on certain contraceptives, or experiencing the skipped periods in the time before menopause, known as perimenopause. But in other women, amenorrhea can be a signal of trouble, especially if the missed menstruation appears with other symptoms. (1) Editor' s Picks Real Women Tout Their Go-To Period Products Perimenopause vs Menopause A Look at the Difference Is Your Period Normal Estrogen Types Replacement Therapies and Side Effects Signs and Symptoms of AmenorrheaDoctors divide amenorrhea into two types. Primary amenorrhea refers to a condition in a girl who has never menstruated by the age of 16, or sometimes 14. Secondary amenorrhea generally refers to three months of missed periods, or sometimes fewer, in a woman who previously had a normal cycle. (2) The absence of menstrual bleeding is labeled “amenorrhea.” But in some cases it is accompanied by other symptoms, indicating an underlying condition. For instance, women may have excess facial hair, headaches, hair loss, vision changes, or other symptoms in addition to the lack of a period. When this is the case, it is especially important to be checked by your healthcare provider. (1) Some women have very light periods that may not last long. If there is any bleeding, this is not considered amenorrhea. RELATED: Is Your Period Normal Causes and Risk Factors of Amenorrhea Amenorrhea naturally occurs when a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding. Women who are on certain contraceptives or who have entered perimenopause, the years before their period ceases, may also experience months when they don’t get a menstrual period. In other women, amenorrhea is a sign of disruption in the hormonal system in the body. This may be due to certain behaviors, such as excessively exercising, having an eating disorder, or experiencing significant stress. Typically when the behaviors are reversed, the menstrual period will return. (3) Most Popular How to Best Track and Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle What Are the Symptoms of PCOS and How Is the Health Condition Diagnosed 10 Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause Best Treatments for Vaginal Yeast InfectionsUse (or abuse) of certain medications, including antipsychotics or drugs to treat certain cancers, can also stop your period for a time. (4) Sometimes the dysfunction occurs for other reasons. Hormonal issues can stop menstruation in a previously regular woman, or it can be the cause of primary amenorrhea, where the menstrual period hasn’t yet begun. Common hormonal problems causing amenorrhea include:Endocrine disorders, especially polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)Dysfunction or tumors in various hormone-producing glands, such as the hypothalamus, pituitary, or thyroidPrimary ovarian insufficiency (also called premature ovarian failure) Occasionally, primary amenorrhea results from a congenital anatomic abnormality of the reproductive system or from a genetic condition, such as fragile x syndrome. (3) Editor' s Picks National Period Action Day Is October 9There’s a growing menstrual justice movement to raise awareness about, and eradicate, period poverty.…Learn More How Is Amenorrhea Diagnosed A diagnosis of amenorrhea begins with your answering questions of your healthcare provider, including about your medical history, eating and exercise habits, and any medicines or supplements you may be taking. (5) You’ll also want to report about your typical menstrual cycle, including how long it has been since your last period. This is why it’s smart for all women to regularly keep track of their cycle, either using a calendar or a period tracking app designed especially for this purpose. You will also have a pelvic exam to check for physical defects. If birth defects are suspected in a teen with primary amenorrhea, a pelvic ultrasound might be performed. Generally blood tests are also done, including a pregnancy test as well as those that measure a variety of hormones such as estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), lutenizing hormone (LH), thyroid hormones, and others. (5) If these tests do not uncover the cause of the amenorrhea, a head CT scan or MRI may be ordered to look for a tumor. RELATED: How Keeping a Period Diary Helps Your Health Most Recent in Amenorrhea Coping With Hot Flashes and Other Menopausal Symptoms What 15 Celebrities Said Women s Health Worsened in 2021 as Many Women Lack Access to Health Screenings and Preventive Care Foot Massage Can Help Ease Sleep Trouble Other Menopausal Symptoms A History of Stressors and Childhood Trauma May Predict Worse Menopausal Symptoms and Well-Being Duration of AmenorrheaOnce the cause of the amenorrhea has been identified and treated, the menstrual period should return. Sometimes it requires stopping behaviors that are causing the lack of period, such as exercising excessively, being too thin or obese, or experiencing too much stress. (4) Contraceptives may also result in amenorrhea. This is not dangerous, and your period will typically return about three months after you stop taking or using them. (3) RELATED: Speaking Menstruation: A Glossary of Terms Used to Describe Symptoms, Tests, Treatments, and More Treatment and Medication Options for Amenorrhea Because many different conditions can be behind your missed periods, treatment varies depending on the cause. This ranges from medication, behavioral changes, and sometimes surgery. Medication OptionsBirth control pills or other types of hormonal medication are often prescribed to restart an off-kilter menstrual cycle.Depending on the goal of treatment, clomiphene citrate therapy or another medication may be used if PCOS is determined to be the cause of the amenorrhea.Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may be given to women diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency. (6)Medication intended to shrink certain tumorsOther medication may also be prescribed depending on the disease your medical professional determines is causing your menstrual problems. (5) Surgical Options Surgery for amenorrhea is uncommon but may be recommended in certain situations.Uterine Scarring Removal of scar tissue resulting from a cesarean section, prior medical procedure, endometriosis, or other condition may be helpful in treating amenorrhea.Surgery is sometimes needed to shrink a pituitary tumor if medication has not been successful. (6) Alternative and Complementary Therapies When unhealthy lifestyle factors bring on amenorrhea, shifting to a healthier way of life can bring a regular cycle back. (6)A healthful diet, for women who are severely overweight or underweight, can achieve a healthier body mass index (BMI) and restore your periods.The right amount of exercise is useful for women who exercise extensively and lose too much bodyweight, including competitive athletes and dancers.Stress reduction is an important way to keep periods flowing. Assess which parts of your life are causing you stress and see if you can change them. Programs like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are designed to help. Editor' s Picks Estrogen Types Replacement Therapies and Side EffectsEstrone, estradiol, and estriol are the three main types of estrogen.…Learn More Prevention of AmenorrheaTo best regulate your menstrual cycle, maintain a healthy body weight and do a proper amount of exercise. (2) If you experience symptoms of any conditions known to cause amenorrhea, you’ll want to see your healthcare professional right away to prevent the disease from worsening and bringing on a long bout of amenorrhea. Complications of Amenorrhea Going without a period may not signal a health problem. When there is no natural explanation, though, it can be a sign that your hormonal or reproductive system is not working properly. The risks of having amenorrhea vary, depending on a woman’s estrogen state; infertility or osteoporosis can occur from low estrogen, while endometrial cancer is related to high estrogen levels. (7,8) Several underlying conditions that include amenorrhea may cause significant complications. Untreated PCOS, for instance, may result in infertility. (9) Women with PCOS are often insulin resistant; their bodies can't use insulin effectively, which increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. (10) Unintended pregnancy can be a complication of amenorrhea if you are not carefully using birth control. It is still possible to get pregnant even when you are not having regular periods. (2) Research and Statistics Who Experiences Amenorrhea Amenorrhea that is not caused by a natural event like pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause occurs in fewer than 5 percent of women during their lifetime. (1) Related Conditions and Causes of AmenorrheaAnorexiaBreastfeedingBulimiaHypothalamic tumorInfertilityInsulin resistanceMetabolic syndromeOsteoporosisPerimenopausePregnancyPrimary ovarian insufficiency (aka premature ovarian failure)Pituitary tumorPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)Thyroid tumorType 2 diabetes Resources We Love Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Includes a comprehensive review of both primary and secondary amenorrhea for teens and adult women. Merck Manual This esteemed medical resource for professionals also has a detailed section on amenorrhea geared to consumers. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking Amenorrhea. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. January 31, 2017.Amenorrhea: What You Should Know. American Family Physician. April 15, 2006.Pinkerton JV. Amenorrhea. Merck Manual Professional Version. July 2019.Absent Menstrual Periods — Secondary. National Library of Medicine.Absent Menstrual Periods — Primary. National Library of Medicine.What Are the Treatments for Amenorrhea? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. January 31, 2017.Amenorrhea: Symptoms & Causes. Mayo Clinic. July 25, 2019.Ding DC, Chen W, Wang JH, et al. Association Between Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Endometrial, Ovarian, and Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan. Medicine. September 2018.Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Mayo Clinic.PCOS and Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. March 24, 2020Show LessNEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Women' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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