You might wonder why you keep missing your periods. Although it could be something that should not cause you any worry. But if you experience a missed period consecutively for three months, it might be something that you should discuss with your doctor.
If you are looking for the best gynecologist in the Brooklyn area, then you should visit Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center. You can talk to our Gyn specialist and discuss your condition with us.
Missed periods, or amenorrhea, is a condition in which a woman misses one or more of her regular menstruations for three or more consecutive months. There are two types of amenorrhea:
- Primary Amenorrhea – this refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has not gotten her period at the age of 15. This is usually caused by hormone levels and anatomical problems.
- Secondary Amenorrhea – this refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has missed her period three or more times in a row.
Symptoms of Amenorrhea
Depending on the cause of your amenorrhea, you will experience these other signs and symptoms together with the absence of your period, such as:
- Pelvic pain
- Acne breakout
- Hair loss
- Headaches
- Nipple discharge
- Excess facial hair
- Vision changes
Causes of Missed Periods (Amenorrhea)
There are natural causes for missed period, which can include pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause. If these are your case, then there is no need to see your gynecologist.
But if you have regular menstruation and you miss your cycle for three consecutive months or more, then there is a problem in either one or more of your ovaries, uterus, hypothalamus, and pituitary glands. The absence of your menstruation could mean that one of these parts of your body is not functioning well. Your lifestyle, other medical conditions, and the medications that you take can also contribute to your amenorrhea.
Other possible causes of missed periods (amenorrhea) can include:
- Birth control – some birth control pills can be the cause of your missing menstruation. This can occur during the first few months of your taking the pill.
- Being underweight – malnutrition can affect how the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland from functioning correctly.
- Excessive exercise – excessive exercise means you are participating in rigorous activities that cause low body fat and drain you of your energy. These conditions cause interruption of your menstrual cycles.
- Stress – stress affects the hormones in your body that could be the cause of your amenorrhea. Mental stress can change the way your hypothalamus’ functions.
- Eating disorders – having eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can be the cause of your amenorrhea. If you have eating disorder, such as anorexia, this could cause for your body weight to drop, hence the amenorrhea.
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – PCOS affects almost 10% of the women’s population worldwide and could be the cause of you missing your period. Symptoms for PCOS includes irregular periods, difficulty in conceiving, weight gain and acne flare outs.
- Turner syndrome – this condition is a genetic disorder, that is the cause of your underdeveloped ovaries that could lead to amenorrhea.
- Pituitary glands problems – the pituitary gland are the ones responsible in releasing the hormones that controls the menstrual cycle. A pituitary tumor, sarcoidosis and postpartum necrosis can lead to amenorrhea.
- Genital tract defects – problems and issues in genital tract can cause amenorrhea or make it difficult for the blood to exit from your vagina. One of the most common genital defects that causes amenorrhea is an imperforated hymen, where the hymen has no opening and does not allow blood to leave during menstrual cycle.
- Premature ovarian failure – this condition causes your ovaries to stop functioning before you turn forty and could lead to you missing your period.
Complications of Amenorrhea
Some consecuences of Missed Periods (Amenorrhea) can cause other medical problems too. These can include:
- Infertility and problems of conceiving – missing your period means you did not ovulate, so you cannot become pregnant.
- Pelvic pain
- Osteoporosis – this problem is caused by not having enough estrogen in your body. Osteoporosis is the condition where the bone in your body becomes weak.
- Cardiovascular disease – this problem is also caused by not having enough estrogen. Cardiovascular diseases include problems with the blood vessel and heart muscles.
Treatments for Amenorrhea
Treatments for your amenorrhea will depend on its underlying cause. Your doctor may want to remove cysts and lesions that could be causing you to miss your menstrual cycle. If your missed period is caused by your imbalanced hormones, you will be advised to take medications that can regulate your hormone levels. You can also change your lifestyle if your activities, such as weight, exercise routines and stress level is contributing to your condition.
When to See a Doctor
If you miss more than three consecutive missed periods, or if you have other symptoms such as excessive hair growth, unexplained weight gain or loss, severe headaches, vision changes, or milky nipple discharge, it is important to consult your medical provider or gynecologist immediately. They can perform thorough evaluation, check your medical history, do a physical examination and other laboratory tests to determine the underlying causes of your condition.
Remember, your medical provider can help you get the care you need. If you are looking for a gynecologist that you can trust, you can book your appointment at Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center. At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we provide women with quality health care services. Our specialists aim to deliver the highest quality of healthcare. We work with our patients in diagnosing and formulating treatment plans for their condition. To book an appointment, you can visit us 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 or call us at 1-347-384-5690. You can also visit our website at http://www.gynecologistbrooklyn.com/.
