Amenorrhea (Stopping of Periods)

Amenorrhea is when you do not have your period (menstruate) even though you have been through puberty, you aren’t pregnant, and you haven’t gone through menopause. It is different than having periods that are irregular. There are two types of amenorrhea:

• Primary amenorrhea. Not having a period by age 15 in adolescent women.
• Secondary amenorrhea. Not having your period for three or more months in a row in women who have previously had a period.

Amenorrhea that lasts for 12 months or longer is considered menopause (when you no longer have periods).

What can cause amenorrhea?

Ovarian failure can cause amenorrhea. This can be from surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiation therapy that involves the ovaries. Amenorrhea may be temporary (your period will come back) or permanent (your period will not come back), depending on the cause. It is hard to know if your periods will return.

If you are sexually active, you should use birth control even if you are not having regular periods. If you believe you may have become pregnant while getting cancer treatment, tell your healthcare provider right away.

When should I call my provider?

Call your healthcare provider if you miss your normal period. They may ask you to keep track of the changes in your period. Your provider may want to do some tests like a pregnancy test, blood tests to check hormone levels, genetic tests, or an MRI.