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Alternative Names Return to top
Primary amenorrhea; No periods; Absent periods; Absent mensesDefinition Return to top
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Primary amenorrhea is not considered to have occurred until a girl is beyond age 16, if she has undergone other normal changes that occur during puberty.
See also:
Causes Return to top
Most girls begin menstruating between ages 9 and 18, with an average around 12 years old. Primary amenorrhea is not considered to have occurred until a girl is beyond age 16, if she has undergone other normal changes that occur during puberty. Primary amenorrhea may occur with or without other signs of puberty.
There are many possible causes of primary amenorrhea:
Symptoms Return to top
A female with amenorrhea will have no menstrual flow with or without other signs of puberty.
Exams and Tests Return to top
The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about the patient's medical history. A pregnancy test will be done.
Blood tests may include:
Other tests that may be done include:
Treatment Return to top
Treatment depends on the cause of the missing period. Primary amenorrhea caused by birth defects may require medications (hormones), surgery, or both.
If the amenorrhea is caused by a tumor in the brain (pituitary tumor), the tumor is usually treated with a drug called bromocriptine. Surgery to remove the tumor may also be necessary. Radiation therapy is usually only performed when other treatments have not worked.
If the condition is caused by a body-wide (systemic) disease, treatment of the disease may allow menstruation to begin.
Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top
Overall the outlook is good, depending on the cause of the amenorrhea. If the amenorrhea is caused by one of the following conditions, there is a good possibility of correcting the amenorrhea through medication, lifestyle change, or surgery:
If the amenorrhea is caused by one of the following conditions, it is unlikely that the amenorrhea can be corrected by any method:
If the amenorrhea cannot be corrected, it is sometimes possible to create a menstrual-like situation (pseudomenstruation) with medications to help the young woman feel more like her friends or family.
Possible Complications Return to top
Emotional distress or crisis about being different from friends or family and about possible inability to bear children can occur.
When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top
Call your health provider if your daughter is older than age 16 and has not yet begun menstruating, or if she is 14 and shows no other signs of puberty.
References Return to top
Lobo RA. Abnormal uterine bleeding: ovulatory and anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, management of acute and chronic excessive bleeding. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap. 37.
Master-Hunter T, Heiman DL. Amenorrhea: evaluation and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(8):1374-1382.
Update Date: 6/26/2008 Updated by: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
