Anyone who has experienced a lost period — amenorrhea — knows about the anxiety caused by the sudden disappearance of our friend who usually visits every month. I mean, how dare she just dip out on you when she’s accompanied you (without invitation!) to so many dances, dates, beach weekends, and final exams? The following are some of the main causes of amenorrhea so you can begin figuring it out:
- Hormone imbalances For the most part, hormonal imbalances are behind the majority of amenorrhea cases. Typically, the hormonal imbalance associated with amenorrhea is low estrogen or a combination of low estrogen and low progesterone. When a woman’s estrogen and/or progesterone are too low, her body is unable to build up the uterine lining and subsequently shed that uterine lining each month (aka your period). What exactly is causing this kind of hormonal imbalance can be one or a number of things:
- Structural and/or genetic issues. These issues usually require more than just food and lifestyle changes. Primary amenorrhea, which means you’ve never had a period and you are 16 years or older, is the biggest indicator of the problems or conditions below. I recommend that you see a doctor to determine the cause as soon as possible. You know all those scary side effects that most medications list? Well, sometimes those lists include missing your monthly cycle. Here are some meds that commonly cause Amenorrhea: Our body progresses through natural phases and cycles where sometimes Amenorrhea is completely expected, so no need for alarm bells! These include: There are also many physical and emotional symptoms associated with amenorrhea that are no fun. These include: You can sign up for my free 3-part video series, Bring Back Your Period & Regulate Your Cycle. Rather than treating symptoms, Nicole treats women by addressing the root cause of what’s really going on in their bodies. She passionately believes that the fundamentals to healing hormonal imbalances lie in an approach that addresses the unique physiology of every woman. Sign up here for her Fix Your Period Quickstart Kit, a FREE 7-Day E-Course, to discover the top secrets doctors don’t tell you about your hormones, your symptoms & how to finally fix them! Come hang out with Nicole in her Know Your Flow group, or connect with her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, or on Instagram.