When Does Menopause Usually Happen
Menopause happens when you have gone 12 months in a row without a period. The average age of menopause in the United States is 52. The range for women is usually between 45 and 58.2 One way to tell when you might go through menopause is the age your mother went through it.3
Menopause may happen earlier if you:
- Never had children. Pregnancy, especially more than one pregnancy, may delay menopause.4
- Smoke. Studies show smoking can cause you to start menopause up to two years earlier than women who dont smoke.5
Certain health problems can also cause you to start menopause earlier.
Menopause usually happens on its own. However, you may enter menopause earlier than you normally would if you have had chemotherapy or surgery to remove both ovaries. Learn more about early menopause on our Early or premature menopause page.
Bleeding After Combined Progesterone/estrogen
Two Types Of Missed Period
In medicine, a missed period is called amenorrhea. Physicians categorize amenorrhea in two major types: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.
Primary Amenorrhea
Primary amenorrhea is a condition in which a female older than 15 years of age has never had any period, i.e. her periods have not started yet. The reason can be genetic or due tocertain diseases.
Causes: Lack of presence of uterus from birth, immature development of uterus and genetic abnormalities are some of the common causes of amenorrhea.
Secondary Amenorrhea
A condition in which the female is not having her periods from past three months or more is categorized as secondary amenorrhea.
Causes: The causes of secondary amenorrhea can be various, including polycystic ovaries , underweight, anxiety and stress, tumor of pituitary gland, etc. It can also mean pregnancy but it is noteworthy that no period, not pregnant can also be the case.
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No Bleeding After Progesterone Challenge
When To See A Doctor About Absent Menstruation
A teenage girl who hasnt started her periods by at least age 16 should see a doctor. A trip to the doctors office is also necessary if she is age 14 or older and hasnt experienced any signs of puberty yet. These changes would include the following in numbered order of appearance:
Menstruating women and teens should see their doctor if they have missed three or more periods in a row.
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Do I Need To Keep Track Of When My Periods Happened
Diagnosing amenorrhea can be challenging. If the cause of amenorrhea isnt obvious, such as pregnancy, your provider may ask you to keep a record of changes in your menstrual cycle. This history of your periods can help your provider figure out a diagnosis.
Using an app or a journal, note:
- How long your periods last.
- When you had your last period.
- Medications you are taking.
- Changes in your diet or exercise routine.
- Emotional challenges youre having, such as stress.
Our Physicians At Chapel Hill Obgyn Provide An Accurate And Timely Diagnosis
If youre not pregnant, the absence of a period can be stressful. Because there are so many possible causes for amenorrhea, its important that you schedule an appointment with one of our Chapel Hill gynecologists to determine a course of treatment. We can usually schedule an appointment with you that same week.
For more than 40 years, Chapel Hill OBGYN has served women in the Triangle area, sharing the joy of little miracles and supporting them during challenges. Our board-certified physicians and certified nurse midwives bring together the personal experience and convenience of a private practice with the state-of-the-art resources found at larger organizations. To schedule an appointment, please contact us for more information.
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Will I Need Any Tests For A Missed Period
If you go to see a doctor about your periods stopping, first of all the doctor will ask you some questions. For example, the doctor will want to know:
- If you have ever had periods and whether they were regular.
- How long you have not had periods for.
- If you have recently been using any contraception.
- If you are on any medication or have any other medical conditions.
- If you have recently lost weight.
- If you are under any stress.
- If there is any chance you could be pregnant.
- If you have any other symptoms, such as hot flushes or milk leaking from your breasts. The doctor may also ask about signs of pregnancy such as morning sickness or tender breasts.
Your doctor may then wish to examine you. The doctor may want to check your weight and height and then work out your BMI. They may also want to feel your tummy. They may want to look for signs of possible causes. In some cases an internal examination may be needed.Whether further tests are needed will depend on what has been discovered from talking to you and examining you. You may not need any tests at all. Tests which may be needed include:
- A pregnancy test .
- Blood tests. These are done to check out a number of possible causes. They may be done to check hormone levels . Occasionally tests for gene abnormalities may be needed.
- An ultrasound scan.
Amenorrhea Treatment And Home Care
Treatment for amenorrhea will focus on the condition that causes it. Hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills can help start your menstrual cycle again. A thyroid or pituitary disorder can be treated with medication. Physical abnormalities may need surgery.
If something such as stress, weight gain or loss, or depression is affecting your menstrual cycle, you can take an active role in your treatment by taking steps to manage it. Friends, family, or your doctor may be able to help you.
You can help your doctor trace the cause of your amenorrhea by tracking changes in your cycle and symptoms and sharing this information with them. Tell them what medications youâre taking, and about changes in your diet, exercise habits, and stress levels.
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What To Expect At A Doctors Appointment
When you see your doctor about amenorrhea, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you a series of questions. Be prepared to talk about your normal menstrual cycle, your lifestyle, and any other symptoms youre experiencing.
Your doctor will also order a pregnancy test if you havent had a period in three months. If that condition is ruled out, you may need more tests to determine the underlying cause of your missed periods. These diagnostic tests may include:
- Blood tests, which will allow your doctor to check hormone levels in your body. Prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone are all related to menstruation. Determining these levels can help your doctor determine or rule out the cause of your absent periods.
- Ultrasound is an imaging test that uses high frequency sound waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. It enables your doctor to view various organs, such as the ovaries and uterus, and check for abnormal growths.
- CT scan is another type of imaging test that uses computers and rotating X-ray machines to create cross-sectional images of the body. These images allow your doctor to look for masses and tumors in your glands and organs.
Three Months Without A Period May Not Be Normal
Amenorrhea can be natural part of woman’s life, but should never be ignored
DAYTON, Ohio A monthly menstrual cycle can be an unpleasant part of female life, but its regular visit plays an important role in a woman’s overall health.
There are times when a normal menstrual cycle may cease to happen in a woman’s life. In some cases such as pregnancy or the onset of perimenopause it can be a natural part of life stages. Or there may be times in a woman’s life where her periods are deliberately stopped using medications under a physician’s supervision. While this is acceptable and healthy, it is not normal for a period to stop on its own without a reasonable explanation. It can signal something more serious when a woman fails to have a period over a three month period.
The condition, known as amenorrhea, can happen in two different phases. Primary amenorrhea refers to an adolescent who doesn’t begin menstruating during puberty. This type of amenorrhea is rare in the United States.
Secondary amenorrhea, on the other hand, affects about 4 percent of women during their lifetime. This type of amenorrhea is when a woman’s period starts, but then stops. In most cases, this type of amenorrhea comes through natural changes in a woman’s body such as pregnancy or lactation. However, there are cases when it signals something more is going on inside her body.
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Is It Normal To Miss Periods
A disappearing period may seem ideal for many women, but if it stops suddenly or unexpectedly, there may be cause for concern.Secondary amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation for three months or more in a patient who previously had normal cycles, affects up to 5 percent of menstruating women every year. While pregnancy is the most common cause, Geri Hewitt, MD, Ob-Gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, says that a variety of factors can cause a period to disappear, and many can be and should be evaluated and possibly require treated by a medical professional.Missing periods may indicate of poor health, Dr. Hewitt says. If a woman notices her period goes away and doesnt come back for a few months, she should rule out the possibly of pregnancy and seek medical attention to figure out the cause.
Months Late On Period But A Negative Pregnancy Result
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Q What Can I Do About Perimenopausal Weight Gain
Will I Need Any Tests To Diagnose Amenorrhea
Your healthcare provider may want to do some tests, including:
- Blood tests to check hormone levels and detect thyroid or adrenal gland disorders.
- Genetic testing, if you have primary ovarian insufficiency and are younger than 40.
- MRI, if your provider suspects a problem with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
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Why Do Some Menstrual Periods Become Irregular
There are many variables that can affect the length and timing of your menstrual cycle. Some are correctable, but others can signal significant medical issues.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome This metabolic and hormonal disorder occurs when the ovaries or adrenal glands overproduce the male hormones and the body has insulin resistance. Studies have shown that 87 percent of women with irregular menstrual cycles have PCOS.
- Thyroid or pituitary disorders Hypothyroidism , hyperthyroidism , and hyperprolactinemia can all affect menstrual regularity, says Dr. Lynn. One study found that 44 percent of study participants with irregular periods also had thyroid problems.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease An inflammation of the female reproductive system, PID is usually caused by sexually transmitted infections.
Causes For 3 Months Without Periods
As mentioned, one of the most common reasons of not having a period on the expected date is pregnancy. However, here are some other reasons why you have had no period for 3 months.
1. Pregnancy
If you have missed a period and are also experiencing other issues such as bloating, abdominal cramping and breast tenderness, you may be pregnant. Your hormone levels rise during pregnancy and this helps maintain the thickened endometrial lining, which otherwise sheds when you are not pregnant. Shedding of the uterine lining is what you see as menstrual blood. So be sure to take a pregnancy test to confirm it.
2. Menopause
When you do not have a menstrual period for 12 months, this usually indicates the end of your fertile years. You may also experience irregular periods with other symptoms in the months leading to menopause. It means that having no period for 3 months may indicate that you are approaching your menopausal stage.
3. Secondary Amenorrhea
You can have primary amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea. It is considered primary amenorrhea when you do not have your first period by the age of 16. It is secondary amenorrhea if after having normal menstrual cycles for years you suddenly stop getting your period for at least three months. You may develop secondary amenorrhea due to many different reasons. For instance:
4. Other Causes
In addition to the factors mentioned already, there can be some other reasons of having no period for 3 months. For instance:
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Medicines And Medical Treatment
As discussed above, a number of contraceptive treatments can stop you having periods. Other medicines can affect periods too. Examples are some medicines for schizophrenia , an anti-sickness medicine called metoclopramide and strong painkillers called opiates.A number of operations may result in absent periods. For example, after a hysterectomy you will not have periods. A hysterectomy is an operation where the womb is removed. As the blood during a period comes from the womb, you will never have periods again afterwards. Another operation , which is sometimes done for heavy periods, also causes periods to stop. In this operation the lining of the womb is removed. This is not usually permanent and periods start again in time.
Treatments for cancer, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, can also damage the ovaries and result in absent periods. Recreational drugs such as heroin may also cause periods to stop.
When Is A Menstrual Period Considered Irregular
A normal cycle from the first day of one period to the first day of the next can be anywhere from 21 to 35 days, says Becky Lynn, MD, the director of the Evora Center for Menopause and Sexual Health and an adjunct associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Saint Louis University in Missouri: We all think that 28 days is the normal cycle, but there’s actually some room for variability. To determine whether your menstruation schedule is irregular, count from the last day of your previous period and stop counting on the first day of your next. Repeat this for three months. If the number of days between stopping and starting your period is outside of the 21 to 35 days range, you have an irregular cycle. Menstruation can also be considered irregular if your cycle length varies by more than 20 days from month to month.
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If You Want To Get Pregnant
Doctors usually recommend trying to conceive for one year before getting a fertility evaluation. However, this doesnt apply if you have signs or symptoms of a fertility problem. That would include amenorrhea.
If youre not getting your periods, you may be dealing with infertility. Make sure that you andyour partner are evaluated. There may be more than one reason you arent conceiving, and male infertility is more common than you may realize.
Depending on why you arent ovulating, and if there are other fertility problems, treatment possibilities include lifestyle change, weight loss or gain, or medication change. You may also need treatment for an underlying medical condition, or fertility treatments.
No Period For 3 Months And Im Not Pregnant Is It Normal
Question? I have not had my menstrual period for three months and am not pregnant because I have tested several times. What do you think is wrong with me?
A woman who has missed at least three menstrual periods in a row has amenorrhea, and should be evaluated by a physician. Amenorrhea is not a disease itself, but a sympton of an underlying disorder. The most common cause is pregnancy. Even though a woman has tested herself several times with home pregnancy tests, and the tests were all negative, a pregnancy test ordered by your doctor is the first step in finding the cause of amenorrhea. You might experience other signs and symptoms, depending on the cause of the amenorrhea, such as: a milky nipple discharge, hair loss, headache, vision changes, and excess facial hair.
There are a number of possible causes of amenorrhea, including the normal course of a womanâs life, a side effect of medications, or a medical problem. Amenorrhea occurs naturally during pregnancy, breast-feeding, and menopause.
Some of the medications which can stop menstrual periods are: birth control pills, antipsychotics, cancer chemotherapy, antidepressants, and blood pressure pills.
Some lifestyle factors can cause amenorrhea. Mental stress can cause changes in the hypothalamus, an area in the brain that controls the hormones that regulate menstruation. After the stress decreases, periods will usually start again.
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