Library of Frequently Asked Questions
Absence of periods
Amenorrhea (ah-men-o-REE-ah) is the absence of menstrual periods. There are two types of amenorrhea, primary and secondary. In primary amenorrhea, menstruation has never occurred at all. In most cases, this is simply due to the late onset of puberty. If, however, the girl has not menstruated by the age of seventeen, it is recommended she visit a physician for a gynecological examination.
Other causes of primary amenorrhea include anemia (uh-NEE-mee-uh), and disorders of the uterus, ovaries, or pituitary (pih-TOO-ih-tare-ee) gland. Sometimes there is a false primary amenorrhea during which the patient is menstruating, but the blood is prevented from reaching the outside due to a blockage of some type.
Secondary amenorrhea refers to women who have missed three or more periods after their regular menstrual cycle has been established. The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea is pregnancy. However, menstrual patterns can also be altered by anemia, emotional stress, illness, certain medications, oral contraceptives, and excessive exercise. If you develop secondary amenorrhea, and you are not pregnant, it’s possible that the timing of your menstrual cycle is merely off.
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