What happens if menstruation does not occur

This can occur in the first few months of taking a new pill or if a person does not take any placebo pills or have a pill-free week each month. Some of the other birth control methods, such as the hormonal intrauterine device IUD , implant, and injection can also result in amenorrhea. Malnutrition may affect how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland function, which can lead to amenorrhea.

Having a low body weight can also prevent the hypothalamus and pituitary gland from functioning correctly. This can lead to a type of amenorrhea known as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Stress can affect hormone levels in the body, and it is another cause of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. People with this type of amenorrhea also have higher rates of depression and anxiety. Excessive exercise is the third cause of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Some research estimates that half of the women who exercise regularly experience minor menstrual disorders.

This absence of menstruation is usually due to a nutritional deficiency or very low body weight. Some antidepressants and mood stabilizers may affect how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland work. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects 6—8 percent of women worldwide.

PCOS may also lead to hyperandrogenemia, which is when a female has high levels of male hormones. A study of women with PCOS found that over 78 percent of them had hyperandrogenemia. Premature ovarian failure is when the ovaries stop working correctly before the age of This condition may lead to missed periods. However, it is not the same as early menopause, which is when menstruation stops completely. Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder. People with this condition may have underdeveloped ovaries and an absence of menstruation.

Genital tract defects are structural problems that can cause an absence of menstruation or make it difficult for the menstrual blood to exit the vagina. The most common female genital tract defect is an imperforate hymen, which is a hymen with no opening that closes off the vagina and does not allow blood to leave it during a period.

The pituitary gland releases the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. Issues with the pituitary gland, including those below, may lead to amenorrhea:.

Radiation therapy may also affect cells in the pituitary gland and cause amenorrhea. People who miss three periods in a row but are not pregnant or likely to be entering menopause should see a doctor. They may have headaches, vision problems, or a decreased sex drive. They may have difficulty becoming pregnant.

In most women with amenorrhea, the ovaries do not release an egg. Such women cannot become pregnant. If amenorrhea lasts a long time, problems similar to those associated with menopause Menopause Menopause is the permanent end of menstrual periods and thus of fertility. For up to several years before and just after menopause, estrogen levels fluctuate widely, periods become irregular They include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, decreased bone density osteoporosis Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks fractures likely.

Aging, estrogen deficiency, low vitamin D or calcium intake, and Such problems occur because in women who have amenorrhea, the estrogen level is low.

Usually if periods never start, girls do not go through puberty, and thus secondary sexual characteristics, such as breasts and pubic hair, do not develop normally.

If women have been having menstrual periods, which then stop, they may have secondary amenorrhea. Secondary amenorrhea is much more common than primary. Menstrual periods are regulated by a complex hormonal system Overview of the Female Reproductive System The female reproductive system consists of the external genital organs and internal genital organs. The breasts are sometimes considered part of the reproductive system. However, other parts Each month, this system produces hormones in a certain sequence to prepare the body, particularly the uterus, for pregnancy.

When this system works normally and there is no pregnancy, the sequence ends with the uterus shedding its lining, producing a menstrual period Menstrual Cycle Menstruation is the shedding of the lining of the uterus endometrium accompanied by bleeding. It occurs in approximately monthly cycles throughout a woman's reproductive life, except during The hormones in this system are produced by the following:. The ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone. Other hormones, such as thyroid hormones and prolactin produced by the pituitary gland , can affect the menstrual cycle.

The most common reason for no menstrual periods in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding is. When this system malfunctions, the ovaries do not release an egg. The type of amenorrhea that results is called anovulatory amenorrhea.

Less commonly, the hormonal system is functioning normally, but another problem prevents periods from occurring. For example, menstrual bleeding may not occur because the uterus is scarred or because a birth defect, fibroid, or polyp blocks the flow of menstrual blood out of the vagina.

High levels of prolactin, which stimulates the breasts to produce milk, can result in no periods. Amenorrhea can result from conditions that affect the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, uterus, cervix, or vagina. These conditions include hormonal disorders, birth defects, genetic disorders, and drugs. A birth defect of the reproductive organs that blocks the flow of menstrual blood such as an imperforate hymen Imperforate hymen Defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes testicles in boys and the vagina and labia in girls.

Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female or Turner syndrome Turner Syndrome Turner syndrome is a sex chromosome abnormality in which girls are born with one of their two X chromosomes partially or completely missing. Turner syndrome is caused by the deletion of part Kallmann syndrome Kallmann syndrome Hypogonadism is decreased production of testosterone, sperm, or both in males. Hypogonadism occurs when there is a problem in the testes or a problem in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus Overproduction of male hormones by the adrenal glands congenital adrenal hyperplasia Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes testicles in boys and the vagina and labia in girls.

Genital disorders Genital Birth Defects Defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes testicles in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Genetic disorders and birth defects that cause primary amenorrhea may not be noticed until puberty. These disorders cause only primary amenorrhea, not secondary. Sometimes puberty is delayed in girls who do not have a disorder, and normal periods simply begin at a later age.

Such delayed puberty may run in families. Polycystic ovary syndrome Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS Polycystic ovary syndrome is characterized by slight obesity, irregular or no menstrual periods, and symptoms caused by high levels of male hormones androgens. It involves disruption of the Premature menopause Premature Menopause Premature menopause is the permanent end of menstrual periods before age It occurs because the ovaries no longer release eggs ovulation regularly and become less able to produce hormones Use of certain drugs, such as birth control pills oral contraceptives , antidepressants, or antipsychotic drugs.

Stress or excessive exercise as done by competitive athletes, particularly women who participate in sports that involve maintaining a low body weight. Poor nutrition as may occur in women who have an eating disorder Overview of Eating Disorders Eating disorders involve a disturbance of eating or of behavior related to eating, typically including Changes in what or how much people eat Measures people take to prevent food from being Mental disorders such as depression Depression A short discussion of prolonged grief disorder.

Obsessions are recurring, persistent, unwanted, anxiety-provoking, intrusive ideas, images, or urges. Antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, oral contraceptives sometimes , or certain other drugs can cause prolactin levels to increase, as can pituitary tumors and some other disorders. The thyroid gland may cause amenorrhea if it is underactive called hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is underactivity of the thyroid gland that leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormones and a slowing of vital body functions.

Facial expressions become dull, the voice Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism Less common causes of secondary amenorrhea include chronic disorders particularly of the lungs, digestive tract, blood, kidneys, or liver , some autoimmune disorders, cancer, HIV infection, radiation therapy, head injuries, a hydatidiform mole overgrowth of tissue from the placenta , Cushing syndrome, and malfunction of the adrenal glands.

Scarring of the uterus usually due to an infection or surgery , polyps, and fibroids can also cause secondary amenorrhea. Genetic disorders, such as Fragile X syndrome Fragile X Syndrome Fragile X syndrome is a genetic abnormality on the X chromosome that leads to intellectual disability and behavior problems. With the exception of missing your period while on some contraceptives, it is not normal to go without a period for several months and can be harmful to your health.

Visit your physician if your missed periods persist. Media contact: Dee Dee Grays , Facebook 0 Tweet 0. You may also like. New kind of health care center opens in Bryan. Protecting against falls in the bedroom, bathroom.

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