Absent periods
Health topics Periods Absent periods Absent periods (amenorrhoea) is when you don’t get your periods at all. This can be short-term or long-term. If your period is late or has stopped, the first thing to check is whether you might be pregnant. Print / PDF Types of absent periods What causes absent periods? Managing absent periods When to see your doctor Reviewed For the most up to date information on this topic, please visit jeanhailes.org.au Key takeaways Absent periods can happen for many reasons, including pregnancy, excessive exercise, menopause and conditions like PCOS. Your doctor might recommend medicines or lifestyle changes to get your periods back on track. See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if your period stops for 3 months or more. Sections on this page Types of absent periods What causes absent periods? Managing absent periods When to see your doctor Print / PDF Key takeaways Absent periods can happen for many reasons, including pregnancy, excessive exercise, menopause and conditions like PCOS. Your doctor might recommend medicines or lifestyle changes to get your periods back on track. See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if your period stops for 3 months or more. Types of absent periods There are 2 main types of absent periods: Primary amenorrhoea is when your periods haven’t started by about the age of 16, or more than 3 years after your breasts start to develop. Secondary amenorrhoea is when you stop getting your periods for 3 months or more after previously having regular periods. What causes absent periods? The most common cause of absent periods is abnormal hormone levels. This may be due to: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) pituitary or thyroid disease being overweight an abnormality that develops at birth (congenital disorder). It may also be due to: extreme weight loss, dieting or eating disorders excessive exercise anxiety or stress menopause Asherman’s syndrome – a rare condition due to scar tissue in the uterus or on the cervix after surgery or radiation treatment. Managing absent periods Depending on the cause, your doctor might recommend: medicines (e.g. hormone medicines) lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and nutrition, stress management) surgery. If your periods have stopped because of an eating disorder, your doctor can help you get support from a specialist. For more information about eating disorders, visit the Butterfly Foundation website. When to see your doctor See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if you stop getting your periods for 3 months or more after previously having regular periods. There are other reasons why you might need to see your doctor about your periods. It’s helpful to record information about your periods and take it with you to discuss at your appointment. You can record: when you get your periods the length and heaviness of your periods how period pain affects you. Review process Our review process This information has been reviewed by clinical experts and is based on the latest evidence. Our content review process ensures our health information is accurate, trustworthy, current and useful. We regularly check our information to make sure it reflects the latest clinical guidelines and key findings from large, reliable studies. Where possible, we focus on Australian research to make our information more relevant locally. Experts play a key role in reviewing our content. Clinicians at Jean Hailes check information for accuracy and real‑world relevance. These include GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, psychologists and allied health professionals. We also work with partner organisations, independent specialists and people with lived experience to make sure our content reflects both expert knowledge and the experiences of the community. Health information in your language view all You might want to know more about Topic Period products Topic Irregular periods Topic Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Topic Endometriosis

Absent periods

Absent periods (amenorrhoea) is when you don’t get your periods at all. This can be short-term or long-term. If your period is late or has stopped, the first thing to check is whether you might be pregnant.

Print / PDF

Reviewed

Key takeaways

Absent periods can happen for many reasons, including pregnancy, excessive exercise, menopause and conditions like PCOS.
Your doctor might recommend medicines or lifestyle changes to get your periods back on track.
See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if your period stops for 3 months or more.

Key takeaways

Absent periods can happen for many reasons, including pregnancy, excessive exercise, menopause and conditions like PCOS.
Your doctor might recommend medicines or lifestyle changes to get your periods back on track.
See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if your period stops for 3 months or more.

Types of absent periods

There are 2 main types of absent periods:

Primary amenorrhoea is when your periods haven’t started by about the age of 16, or more than 3 years after your breasts start to develop.
Secondary amenorrhoea is when you stop getting your periods for 3 months or more after previously having regular periods.

What causes absent periods?

The most common cause of absent periods is abnormal hormone levels. This may be due to:

polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)
pituitary or thyroid disease
being overweight
an abnormality that develops at birth (congenital disorder).

It may also be due to:

extreme weight loss, dieting or eating disorders
excessive exercise
anxiety or stress
menopause
Asherman’s syndrome – a rare condition due to scar tissue in the uterus or on the cervix after surgery or radiation treatment.

Managing absent periods

Depending on the cause, your doctor might recommend:

medicines (e.g. hormone medicines)
lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and nutrition, stress management)
surgery.

If your periods have stopped because of an eating disorder, your doctor can help you get support from a specialist.

For more information about eating disorders, visit the Butterfly Foundation website.

When to see your doctor

See your doctor if you haven’t had your first period by about the age of 16 or if you stop getting your periods for 3 months or more after previously having regular periods.

There are other reasons why you might need to see your doctor about your periods.

It’s helpful to record information about your periods and take it with you to discuss at your appointment. You can record: