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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAmenorrhea — the absence of menstruation — can happen during puberty or later in life. Primary amenorrhea describes a condition in which you haven't had any menstrual periods by age 16. Secondary amenorrhea occurs when you were previously menstruating, but then stopped having periods. Pregnancy may be your first thought if you miss a period, but there are many possible explanations for absence of menstruation.
A sign, not a disease, amenorrhea seldom results from a serious condition. However, not knowing why menstruation has stopped can be stressful, and waiting for it to recur may feel like a lifetime.
But don't hit the panic button. With a little investigation into your medical history and an accurate description of what you're experiencing, you and your doctor can usually get to the root of the problem. Treating the underlying problem can resolve amenorrhea.
Symptoms
