What is amenorrhea in teens?

Also known as: amenorrhea, absent menstrual periods.

Amenorrhea is a menstrual irregularity that is defined as a girl not having a menstrual period for three monthly cycles or longer. Most girls get their periods two years after the start of breast development and certainly by age 16.

Amenorrhea may fall into one of two categories:

Primary amenorrhea

When menstrual periods in an individual have not occurred by age 15, this is known as primary amenorrhea. Frequently, this lack of menstrual bleeding is due to hormone levels, although it can also be the result of anatomical problems in the body.
 

Secondary amenorrhea

When someone had a normal menstrual cycle in the past but then does not have three or more periods in a row, this is known as secondary amenorrhea. This is most frequently due to pregnancy, although hormonal issues can also lead to secondary amenorrhea. One type of secondary amenorrhea is known as hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), and it occurs when the hypothalamus and pituitary glands do not function as they should.

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Reviewed by: Cathy Anne Burnweit, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM