Menstrual period stops – causes, treatment & prevention

Menstrual bleeding stops

For many, the following sentence is a shock at first: The menstrual period stops . The absence of menstrual bleeding can have various causes. Pregnancy is not always present. A medical examination makes sense.

What is a missed period?

Normally, the menstrual cycle of a sexually mature woman is relatively regular. The average cycle lasts 28 days, and the period (menstrual bleeding) occurs approximately every four weeks. Individually, the cycle can be relatively different and last between about 24 and over 30 days. Fluctuations in the menstrual cycle due to external or internal influences are considered normal if they only last a few days. The cycle can be postponed by one to two days for reasons that are not necessarily perceptible. Again and again, there is also a lack of menstrual bleeding. This absence is called amenorrheadesignated. A distinction is made between primary and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is when a woman has not had a period after the age of sixteen.

Secondary amenorrhea is when your period has come but suddenly stops for more than three months. In practice, secondary amenorrhea is much more common than primary amenorrhea. Furthermore, menstrual cramps are also frequently encountered, which manifest themselves in the absence of menstrual bleeding within one to two months. The possible causes are manifold. In the general population, if a menstrual period is missed, the only thing that is often considered is the possibility of pregnancy .

causes

Pregnancy is one reason for missed periods, but it is by no means the only one. Numerous external and internal influences can lead to the absence of menstrual bleeding. Some of these reasons are serious, while others are harmless. Ovulation, various hormonal problems described in more detail, diseases of the pituitary gland (pituitary gland) and metabolic diseases can lead to the absence of menstrual bleeding.In addition, long-term psychological stress and mental illnesses can lead to the absence of a menstrual period. In addition, stress, physical and psychological strain as well as drastic experiences and changes can also prevent menstruation. Examples of this are, for example, a move, a holiday in a different climatic region, a birth or other stressful events. These events do not necessarily have to be perceived as stressful, it is sufficient if they weaken or overtax the body. This does not necessarily have to be consciously perceived.

In addition to the reasons already mentioned, taking various medications can also disrupt the normal course of menstruation and lead to the absence of menstrual bleeding. A special form of amenorrhea is the so-called post-pill amenorrhea, in which menstruation stops for several months after stopping the pill (oral contraceptive). This phenomenon can be observed relatively frequently and is caused by the hormonal fluctuations caused by stopping the pill.

The pill is a hormonal contraceptive, so it intervenes deeply in the natural bodily processes and changes them by suppressing ovulation. Due to the hormonal changes, this condition can persist even after the pill has been stopped, which means that ovulation can also not occur for some time after the pill has been stopped. It can be assumed that this will occur again after a certain period of time. Until then, however, the menstrual period usually stops.

Diseases

  • eating diseases

When to the doctor?

If there is no menstrual bleeding for several days or weeks, a doctor should be consulted. There is a possibility of pregnancy. Regardless of whether this is intentional or unintentional, a doctor should be consulted. This also applies if contraception, such as taking the pill or using the spiral, has taken place and pregnancy is therefore theoretically excluded. Missing menstrual periods can indicate severe emotional stress. A breakup, exams, or other life-changing situations cause menstrual cycle changes. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult a doctor if the menstrual period is absent for more than 10 days.

The menstrual period not only has the function of an indication of an existing pregnancy. The absence of menstrual bleeding can indicate hormonal diseases or disorders of the metabolic system. Therefore, a doctor’s visit is necessary, even if sexual abstinence has been practiced. Menstrual cycle irregularities can indicate thyroid problems . These need to be investigated and treated.

If you have other symptoms, you need to see a doctor. These include spotting , unusually severe pain or changes in well-being. If medication is taken, changes in the menstrual cycle can occur as side effects. It is advisable to consult the doctor in order to discuss the symptoms and, if necessary, to take advantage of alternative options.

diagnosis and course

Most women affected by a missed menstrual period carry out the first diagnostic step, the pregnancy test, themselves. Both a positive and a negative pregnancy test usually prompt the affected women to consult a doctor promptly, since it is well known in the general population that the absence of a menstrual period outside of pregnancy and before the onset of menopause is considered “not normal”. is.

The doctor usually carries out another pregnancy test to clarify the cause. There are various methods to choose from here. In addition to the urine test strips available in drugstores, which are based on the detection of the hormone beta-HCG, which is produced during pregnancy, blood tests are also possible. This is usually done when the doctor is n’t sure if you’re pregnant after a urine test and an ultrasound scan.

The blood tests also check the HCG concentration. This rises earlier in the blood than in the urine, which is why these tests provide correct results earlier. If pregnancy is ruled out, blood tests are usually done to check hormonal status. If there are irregularities here, further examinations are required to find out the reason for the hormonal problems. The possibility of “post-pill amenorrhea” and the onset of menopause are also checked from the patient’s medical history.

complications

There is no menstrual period – there is no surer sign of pregnancy. Middle-aged women recognize that they have reached menopause. However, missing a menstrual period does not mean that no complications are possible. Since this is still a very early stage of pregnancy, it is not certain until the woman is examined for the first time whether the fertilized egg cell has implanted properly. It could be a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, which is why the first appointment with the gynecologist is so important if the pregnancy test was positive and the menstrual period does not occur. On the other hand, if there is no apparent reason for the absence of a menstrual period, it could be a symptom of an illness – that is also a reason for a doctor’s visit.

Complications will probably not yet arise, but they can occur if the cause of the missed menstrual period is not clarified. If, on the other hand, this occurs during the menopause, there can be a number of accompanying symptoms that are not very simple and can certainly be regarded as complications. Severe hot flashes , circulatory problems and tachycardia are more pronounced in some women than in others and can have a negative impact on everyday life. If, on the other hand, the period does not occur in very young girls and this does not normalize by late puberty, a hormonal imbalance should be clarified. Because if this persists, it negatively influences the development of the female body.

treatment and therapy

Missing menstrual periods is just a symptom, not a disease. For this reason, the absence of menstrual bleeding is never treated, but the underlying disease, if such is present. If you are pregnant, the absence of menstrual bleeding is physiological, ie it is considered normal. However, if the absence of menstrual bleeding is due to a disease, it must be treated.

In general, it is not possible to explain how the underlying disease is treated. In general, therapy is only indicated when pregnancy has been ruled out with certainty. If this is the case, the disease must first be diagnosed. Then it can be treated.If there is a hormonal disorder, this is treated with appropriate hormonal therapy. Since a number of hormonal disorders can lead to the absence of menstrual bleeding, the therapy cannot be described more specifically within the framework of general information. If psychological stress is the cause of the missed menstrual period, it is important to stop it. This can be done through talks and, in the case of manifest mental illness, through psychotherapy . The treating physician will refer patients to a specialist if they suspect a mental illness.

prevention

In general, it can be prevented by avoiding stress and excessive strain. However, this type of prevention only prevents part of the possible causes. In general, it can be said that there is no effective way to definitely prevent the absence of a menstrual period. Only the probability of absenteeism can be reduced by stress-reducing measures.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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