What is amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period.
Amenorrhea is sometimes categorized as:
- Primary amenorrhea. This describes a young woman who has not had a period by age 16.
- Secondary amenorrhea. This occurs when a woman who once had regular periods experiences an absence of more than three cycles. Secondary amenorrhea includes pregnancy.
Having regular periods is an important sign of overall health. Missing a period, when not caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause, is generally a sign of another health problem. If you miss your period, talk to your health care provider about possible causes, including pregnancy.