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KEY POINTS
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Amenorrhea is the medical term for missed menstrual periods. Menstruation is part of the process your body goes through to get ready for the possibility of pregnancy each month. Each month, an ovary releases an egg. The egg travels through a tube called the fallopian tube into the uterus. Hormones make the lining of the uterus thicker to get ready for a baby in case the egg is fertilized by sperm. If a man's sperm does not fertilize the egg, the uterus sheds the lining it prepared for a baby. When the uterus sheds its lining, blood flows out of your vagina. This is called menstrual flow, or your period.
Not having periods or missing periods can mean you have not had a period at all by the time you are 15 years old or you have had regular periods and then stop having them.
Athletic amenorrhea is when you don’t have menstrual periods because you have been exercising very intensely and are very lean. Some women athletes stop having periods. Others don’t get their first period until years after the age at which most girls start menstruating. Some may not have a period until they are in their 20s.
The female hormones estrogen and progesterone are important for overall body health. These hormones regulate your periods. Athletes have reduced hormone levels from a combination of:
You do not have periods for 3 months or more.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you, including a pelvic exam. Tests may include:
You may have other tests or scans to check for other possible causes of your symptoms.
To treat athletic amenorrhea, you may need to:
If you are sexually active you can get pregnant even if you have missed periods. Use birth control if you do not want to get pregnant.
A well-balanced diet with enough calories helps prevent athletic amenorrhea. Try not to exercise too much and eat too little.
If you think you have an eating disorder, talk with your healthcare provider.