Other than cases of pregnancy, infrequent or absent menstrual periods usually are caused by hormones. Treatment depends on the cause, but can include lifestyle changes or hormonal medications.
Missing or absent menstrual periods, when not due to pregnancy, usually have a hormonal cause. One of the most common of these is menopause, in which a woman stops having periods because her ovaries are no longer producing estrogen.
Other reasons include:
Rarely, absent menstrual periods can be caused by scarring of the uterine cavity as a result of a medical curettage procedure.
Usually, the reason for absent or infrequent menstrual periods can be determined with a combination of medical history, physical examination and blood tests.
Treatment options are selected once the cause of the infrequent or absent menstrual periods has been identified. Treatment may involve lifestyle changes, such as moderation of diet or exercise habits, and hormonal medications such as oral contraceptive pills, thyroid medication or estrogen replacement therapy.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated
April 23, 2012
Gynecology Practice
2356 Sutter St., Fifth and Sixth Floors
San Francisco, CA 94143-1648
Phone: (415) 885-7788
Fax: (415) 353-9550
Appointment information
Obstetrics & Gynecology Services at Serramonte
333 Gellert Blvd., Suite 120
Daly City, CA 94015
Gynecology: (415) 885-7788
Obstetrics: (415) 353-2566
Fax: (650) 991-2748
Appointment information
