I missed my period

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER.

Prior to this, were you having a monthly period?

You may be dealing with amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is considered a “menstrual condition”. There are 2 types of amenorrhea: primary and secondary.

Primary amenorrhea is the term used when a young woman has never had a period. Almost all girls get their periods between 9 and 15 years old or about 2 to 3 years after they start their breast development.

Secondary amenorrhea is a term used when a young woman has had a period before, but stops having them. For example, your periods were regular for the first 2 years after you started having them, and now they don’t come at all. Or you only have 2 or 3 periods a year and sometimes 6 months goes by without a period.

Girls with PCOS typically have irregular menstrual cycles and excess hair growth or acne. They are often overweight. Girls with PCOS may have no periods (amenorrhea) or irregular periods, such as fewer than 9 periods a year or 3 or more months going by without a period.

Low or high thyroid hormone, too little or too much adrenal hormones such as cortisol, and too much prolactin, a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain, can cause irregular periods or amenorrhea.

Not having a period for more than a couple of months may not be normal, and finding out why is important.

Regards,
Maryann