Why do menstruation stops

It also occurs then a woman fails to menstruate for 3 to 6 months. Amenorrhea can happen for many reasons. The most common cause is pregnancy. However, amenorrhea may also be caused by various lifestyle factors, including body weight and exercise levels. The underlying cause of your missed periods may require treatment. Most girls begin menstruating between ages 9 and 18, but 12 is the average age. Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has stopped menstruating for at least three months.

This is the more common form of amenorrhea. Primary and secondary amenorrhea can occur for numerous reasons. Some causes are natural, while others are medical conditions that need to be treated.

These changes would include the following in numbered order of appearance:. Menstruating women and teens should see their doctor if they have missed three or more periods in a row. When you see your doctor about amenorrhea, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you a series of questions.

If that condition is ruled out, you may need more tests to determine the underlying cause of your missed periods. These diagnostic tests may include:. Treatment for amenorrhea varies depending on the underlying cause.

Hormonal imbalances can be treated with supplemental or synthetic hormones, which can help normalize hormone levels. Hewitt says. According to Dr.

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Is it normal to miss periods? Pregnancy: Amenorrhea is a common and expected side effect of pregnancy. If a woman is sexually active and her period suddenly stops, she should first take a home pregnancy test to determine if that could be the cause. Hormonal contraceptive use, like the birth control pill shot or a hormonal IUD can cause periods to become very light or even disappear. Some women chose these types of contraception to minimize menstrual bleeding.

Patients with PCOS often have small cysts on their ovaries, and signs of elevated testosterone levels such as acne and hair growth. Stress and lifestyle factors: When a woman is experiencing high amounts of stress, she may also notice a disruption to her menstrual cycle.

Increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol impacts the production of female sex hormones that control menstruation. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and undernourishment with intense exercise both lead to this type of amenorrhea. Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal changes associated with tumors on or near the pituitary gland or associated with thyroid disease can also lead to amenorrhea. Uterine causes: Scar tissue within the uterus after multiple procedures or infection can also lead to a lack of periods.

Menopause: Women in their 40s and 50s will begin to notice irregular to absent menstruation as a result of menopause, the natural decline in reproductive hormones. Some people who take birth control pills oral contraceptives may not have periods. Even after stopping birth control pills, it may take some time before regular ovulation and menstruation return. Contraceptives that are injected or implanted also may cause amenorrhea, as can some types of intrauterine devices.

Ovulation is the release of an egg from one of the ovaries. It often happens about midway through the menstrual cycle, although the exact timing may vary.

In preparation for ovulation, the lining of the uterus, or endometrium, thickens. The pituitary gland in the brain stimulates one of the ovaries to release an egg.

The wall of the ovarian follicle ruptures at the surface of the ovary. The egg is released. Finger-like structures called fimbriae sweep the egg into the neighboring fallopian tube.

The egg travels through the fallopian tube, propelled in part by contractions in the fallopian tube walls. Here in the fallopian tube, the egg may be fertilized by a sperm. If the egg is fertilized, the egg and sperm unite to form a one-celled entity called a zygote.

As the zygote travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus, it begins dividing rapidly to form a cluster of cells called a blastocyst, which resembles a tiny raspberry. When the blastocyst reaches the uterus, it implants in the lining of the uterus and pregnancy begins.

If the egg isn't fertilized, it's simply reabsorbed by the body — perhaps before it even reaches the uterus. About two weeks later, the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina. This is known as menstruation.