Missing menstruation does not always mean pregnancy. It can also happen due to hormonal changes such as not taking the pill or excessive stress or even due to situations such as intense physical activity or anorexia.
In addition, the lack of menstruation for more than 3 months in a row also happens in the pre menopause, in the first cycles after menarche and does not recur after surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries, not being a worrying situation, in most cases.
Main causes of Menstrual Absence
Some common situations that can cause you to miss your period for more than 3 months in a row include:
- Intense physical exercise, performed by marathon runners, competition swimmers or gymnasts, in which case the ideal is to reduce the intensity of training to regulate menstruation again. Stress, anxiety and nervousness disorders that alter menstrual flow, but which can be solved by finding calm and serenity again, which can be achieved through psychoanalysis sessions or constant physical exercises. Eating disorders, such as a diet low in vitamins or diseases such as anorexia or bulimia. In this case, a nutritionist should be consulted to adapt the diet, so that menstruation returns to normal. Thyroid disorders as in the case of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. If this is a suspicion, the doctor should order thyroid hormones in the blood test and prescribe the appropriate medications if necessary. Use of medications, such as corticosteroids, antidepressants, chemotherapy, antihypertensives or immunosuppressants. In this case, you can try to use another medication that does not have this side effect, or evaluate the risk / benefit of using this medication, but only as directed by the doctor. Diseases of the reproductive system, such as polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, fibroids or tumors and, thus, only with treatment guided by the gynecologist can menstruation return to normal. Changes in the functioning of the brain, such as malfunction of the pituitary and hypothalamus and, although this is not a common cause, can be investigated with specific tests ordered by the gynecologist or general practitioner.
The absence of menstruation also occurs in women with Cushing's syndrome, Asherman's syndrome and Turner syndrome.
The causes of the absence of menstruation are usually related to the decrease in estrogen that can prevent ovulation and the formation of the tissue of the uterus that flakes during menstruation, so there may be menstrual changes such as lack of flow or irregularity of the cycle.
Why is menstruation late?
Menstrual delay can occur when the woman stops taking the pill or stops using the implant, in which case the menstrual cycle can take between 1 and 2 months to normalize. The morning-after pill can also change the day of menstruation descent by a few days. And whenever a pregnancy is suspected it is recommended to have a test to find out if you are pregnant. See other causes at: Delayed menstruation.
When to go to the gynecologist
It is necessary to go to the doctor if:
- A girl does not show signs of puberty until she is 13 years old: lack of pubic or axillary hair growth, no breast growth and no rounding of the hips; If menstruation does not go down until the age of 16; If, in addition to the absence of menstruation, woman presenting other symptoms such as fast heartbeat, anxiety, sweating, weight loss; when the woman is over 40 years old and has had no menstruation for more than 12 months and has already rejected the chance of pregnancy or has irregular menstruation.
In either case, the woman should go to the gynecologist who can indicate the need for blood tests or an ultrasound to assess hormonal values and exclude the existence of any problem or disease, in the ovaries, thyroid or supra glands kidney. Also read: 5 signs that you should go to the gynecologist.
