Ameorrhea

Amenorrhea Fact Sheet

What are the causes of amenorrhea?

Pregnancy is the most common cause.
Other reasons women may stop having periods:
- Breastfeeding.
- Menopause.
- Contraceptives that contain hormones.
- Certain medications.
- Lifestyle factors, such as stress, body weight(too high or too low), too much exercise.
- Problems with hormone balance.
- Problems with the female reproductive (sex)organs.
Reasons that a teen might not get her first period:
- Being overweight or underweight.
- Having female sex organs that didn't grow right.
- Problems in the parts of the brain that makehormones.

Amenorrhea (uh-men-o-REE-uh ) is the loss of menstrual periods.
If a teenager does not have a menstrual period by age 16, it's called "primary amenorrhea."
Secondary amenorrhea occurs when a woman stops having periods for three or more months in a row.
Missing a period may be a sign that a woman is pregnant or something is not normal.
It's important to contact a health care provider about missing a period.

A health care provider can suggest tests to find the cause of amenorrhea.
The first test is a pregnancy test.
Next, blood tests may be done to check the level of hormones.
Computed Tomograph (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the head may be done to look for problems with the parts of the brain that make hormones.
An ultrasound test may be done to look at the female sex organs.

The main symptom is losing or not starting the menstrual period.
Sometimes women have other symptoms,too.
Other symptoms may include headaches, changes in vision, hair loss, and growing facial hair.
The symptoms depend on the cause of the amenorrhea.

The type of treatment depends on the cause of the amenorrhea.
If weight, stress, or physical activity is causing the amenorrhea, lifestyle changes may help.
Medications are often used to treat the other causes of amenorrhea.
It is important to talk to a health care provider about treatment options.