Secondary amenorrhea

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Normal uterine anatomy (cut section)

Secondary amenorrhea

Secondary amenorrhea is lack of periods for 6 or more months in a woman who has already started menstruation and who is not pregnant, lactating, or in menopause.

See also:

Menstruation - Absent

Primary amenorrhea

Amenorrhea - secondary

About 4% of women have secondary amenorrhea. There are many reasons for missing a period.

You are at an increased risk of secondary amenorrhea if you engage in extreme and prolonged exercise (particularly without adequate conditioning), have less than 15 - 17% body fat, are obese, or take hormonal supplements.

Anxiety and emotional distress can also cause a missed period.

The following drugs may also cause missed periods: 

• Busulfan
• Chlorambucil
• Cyclophosphamide
• Phenothiazines 
• Oral contraceptives
• Non-oral contraceptives such as Depo-Provera

Also, procedures such as a dilation and curettage (D and C) can cause a woman to develop amenorrhea if scar tissue develops within the uterine cavity.

Review Date: 05/10/2006
Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.