# Cessation of periods. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931 "2008-06-23T16:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/1 "2008-06-23T16:29:25Z")
In general but of course I’m thinking most of my own. They’ve stopped. And while not a spring chicken, I’m still a bit too young for menapuase. And I have no other symtoms…no hot flashes etc. Just no periods and very little secondary sexual hair growth. WTF? I’m going to see my doctor shortly, but I find it’s better to come with as much information as you can muster to begin with. Any thoughts? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/2 "2008-06-23T16:31:53Z")
Are you pregnant? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/3 "2008-06-23T16:43:31Z")
How young is a bit too young? I’ve known two ladies who when through menopause in their late thirties–say around 38 or 39. Stopped for how long? It’s not official until it has been 1 year without a period. As **WF Tomba** asks, could you possibly be pregnant? A home pregnancy test couldn’t hurt. Definitely see your doctor ASAP, though. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/4 "2008-06-23T17:41:26Z")
Another possibility: have you lost a lot of weight? Or are you generally very skinny? That can be a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/5 "2008-06-23T18:58:05Z")
A low bodyfat percentage can cause amenorrhea. It can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance. > **[Amenorrhea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenorrhea)** > > Amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period in a female who has reached reproductive age. Physiological states of amenorrhoea are seen, most commonly, during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding). Outside the reproductive years, there is absence of menses during childhood and after menopause. > Amenorrhoea is a symptom with many potential causes. Primary amenorrhea is defined as an absence of secondary sexual characteristics by age 13 with no menarche or normal secondary sexual characteristi... ---
**Author:** ![notlikely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@notlikely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notlikely)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/6 "2008-06-24T03:48:11Z")
Look at when your mother went through the “change.” My mother was a nurse and she swore she hadn’t had a period for over two years, then when she was 47 she got pregnant with my little brother. It’s really a totally individual thing ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/7 "2008-06-24T16:23:47Z")
Thanks for the respones. No I’m not prergrent. .Not even a possiblite Wish I were if it were. If it were my SO’s . And yeah I am bit too young. My mom didn’t come into the next chapter of her life till well into her 50’s ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/8 "2008-06-24T16:26:57Z")
Um…and just to add low body fat has NEVER been one of my problems. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/9 "2008-06-24T16:39:19Z")
Stress? I just got back from boot camp and haven’t seen mine since April. We were told a lot of women will not get it because of the high stress levels. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/10 "2008-06-24T16:42:09Z")
Perhaps its PCOS (Poly cystic ovary syndrome) [Polycystic ovary syndrome - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pcos) I have PCOS, and it’s fairly common. It’s a collection of symptoms that includes hormonal imbalance, problems with high blood sugar and/or outright diabetes, obesity, and others. I was told by my doctor that each symptom aggravates the others, so for example, the higher your blood sugar levels, the more imbalanced your hormones get, the more imbalanced your hormones get, the higher your blood sugar levels, etc. Anyway, it’s a possibility, especially if you are carrying some extra weight. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/11 "2008-06-24T17:01:34Z")
When I was young I lost my periods for about three months after a general anesthesia for dental surgery. Once I learned it was nothing to worry about I was all over enjoying it. Have you had a general anesthesia lately? Once, when I was underweight a little, I lost my periods for a couple of months, too. But you say that’s not an issue for you. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/12 "2008-06-24T17:24:04Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] When I was young I lost my periods for about three months after a general anesthesia for dental surgery. Once I learned it was nothing to worry about I was all over enjoying it. Have you had a general anesthesia lately? Once, when I was underweight a little, I lost my periods for a couple of months, too. But you say that’s not an issue for you. [/QUOTE] Slight hijack, but on topic. May and June I had 2 periods. One the first week, normal flow (which is quite heavy, compared to others,) and one over the last few days (very, very light and rusty red.) I’ll be checking with the Doc if it happens next month. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/13 "2008-06-24T17:30:27Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] When I was young I lost my periods for about three months after a general anesthesia for dental surgery. Once I learned it was nothing to worry about I was all over enjoying it. Have you had a general anesthesia lately? Once, when I was underweight a little, I lost my periods for a couple of months, too. But you say that’s not an issue for you. [/QUOTE] Also…not to hijiack… But my last week of bootcamp they thought it would be mighty patriotic to begin serving my country with no wisdom teeth… So before I run up to Der Safeway and buy a pregnancy test, I ought to consider the anesthesia for a moment! ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/14 "2008-06-24T19:05:30Z")
Any headaches? Blurred vision? Nipple discharge? GI upset? Fatigue? If it’s not the menopause, or an unexpected passenger, it is possibly due to a hormonal upset. Possibly due to a pituitary problem, possibly a thyroid issue. Simply diagnosed by blood tests, often very easily treated with medication. Possible diagnoses: [Hypothyroidism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism) [Hyperthyroidism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthyroidism) [Hyperprolactinaemia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperprolactinaemia) [Hypopituitarism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypopituitarism) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cessation-of-periods/453931/15 "2008-06-30T01:40:40Z")
Ah. A diagnosis where the cure seems to be relax and get myself laid. Now that’s something I can get behind. But I’ll also look into your polysyllabic diseases irishgirl 🙂 Thanks.