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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

The main indication of amenorrhea is that you don't have menstrual periods. Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, you might experience other signs or symptoms along with the absence of periods, such as:

  • Milky nipple discharge
  • Hair loss
  • Headache
  • Vision changes
  • Excess facial hair

When to see a doctor
Consult your doctor if you've missed at least three menstrual periods in a row, or if you've never had a menstrual period and you're age 16 or older.

Causes Definition
References
  1. Rebar RW, et al. Abnormalities of the reproductive years: Amenorrhea. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  2. Amenorrhea. National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/amenorrhea.cfm. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  3. Martin V, et al. Amenorrhea. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..C2009-0-38984-9--TOP&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&about=true&uniqId=236797353-5. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  4. Heiman DL. Amenorrhea. Primary Care. 2001;36:1.
  5. Lobo RA. Primary and secondary amenorrhea and precocious puberty: Etiology, diagnostic evaluation, management. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  6. Mishell DR. Family planning: Contraception, sterilization and pregnancy termination. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  7. Welt CK, et al. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of secondary amenorrhea. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 21, 2011.
  8. Welt CK, et al. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of primary amenorrhea. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 21, 2011.
  9. Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 23, 2011.
  10. Hysteroscopy. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp084.cfm. Accessed March 21, 2011.
DS00581 May 17, 2011

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