What To Do If Your Period Stops and You’re Not Pregnant

At first, you may have panicked. When your period stopped, your first thought was that you were pregnant. But your home pregnancy test was negative.

You then turned your attention to other possibilities—could factors such as stress be a cause? Is this a sign of something more serious?

What if your period stops and you’re not pregnant? We’ll take you through the many possible causes and solutions.

Here are some facts that may alleviate your worry. 

Amenorrhea—the absence of menstrual periods—does not always signify a serious problem. It may be caused by natural hormonal changes such as menopause or something as common as stress. The key to treating amenorrhea successfully depends upon addressing the underlying cause.

Even though amenorrhea may not indicate urgent medical issues, it is something that must be treated. There are multiple causes, and it’s vital for us to get to the heart of the issue for your gynecological health. Therefore, you should schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you!

What Is the Difference Between Primary and Secondary Amenorrhea? 

First, let’s look at what type of amenorrhea you may have. There are two main types: primary and secondary.

Primary amenorrhea occurs when a young woman has not had her first period by the time she turns 16. Secondary amenorrhea happens when a woman who has previously had normal menstruation cycles stops getting her period. 

Primary amenorrhea signifies a change in organs and hormones involved in menstruation. Secondary amenorrhea has a wide variety of causes ranging from pregnancy to stress. 

If you have amenorrhea, you may also experience symptoms such as:

“It’s important to realize that amenorrhea does not automatically mean there is a problem. However, it could indicate fertility issues. It’s very important for it to be evaluated because there are so many possible causes.” said Dr. Hardison. “By arriving at a precise diagnosis, we can begin an effective treatment.” 

What Could Cause My Amenorrhea?

We’ll take a look at several conditions and illnesses that can affect your period. These include:

• Hormonal imbalances including:
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). 
  • A tumor on the pituitary gland.
  • Premature menopause (While menopause typically begins around age 50, some women experience it much earlier.)
• Weight
  • If you are more than 10 percent underweight you can develop amenorrhea.
• Medications
  • Certain medications can cause an absence of periods. These include:
    • Birth control –including pills, injections and devices
    • Chemotherapy drugs
    • Medications to treat high blood pressure 
    • Certain types of allergy medications
    • Psychiatric medications such as antidepressants or antipsychotics
• Lifestyle factors
  • If you’ve been under the weight of a lot of constant stress you may no longer have periods. This is because stress affects how well the hypothalamus functions. The hypothalamus is part of the brain that regulates hormones which triggers the menstrual cycle. 
  • Are you undergoing intense athletic training, whether as part of a team or recreation? This could interrupt your menstrual cycles. 
• Structural problems with reproductive organs, including uterine scarring.

How Will You Treat My Amenorrhea?

Effective treatment depends upon the underlying cause. For example, if your period has stopped due to stress, we may recommend some lifestyle changes to help you. Treatment may also involve helping you maintain a healthy weight. Hormonal supplements are another solution.

If You’re Having Irregular Periods, Our OBGYNs in Chapel Hill and Durham Can Help

There are several causes of abnormal periods. You may have periods that are excessively heavy or painful. Whether your periods are irregular, or if your period has stopped and you’re not pregnant, we need to get to the underlying cause of the issue. 

Our leading healthcare team of OBGYNs in Chapel Hill and Durham will work closely with you to develop a plan tailored specifically to your needs. And typically, we can schedule an appointment with you that same week. Contact us for an appointment today.

Now, we’ll take a closer look at perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause. While your period will not completely stop during perimenopause, it may become irregular, as we’ll explain next. 

3 Things You Need to Know About Perimenopause

You’ve heard all about the hot flashes and night sweats that accompany menopause.

But how much do you know about perimenopause, the years of “transition” that lead to menopause?

Here’s what you need to know about perimenopause, including a look at some of the latest menopause treatments to help alleviate the irritating symptoms.

What Is Perimenopause?

Is there a difference between menopause and perimenopause?

A woman is in menopause when she has not had a period for one year. While the average age of onset is 51, menopause normally occurs between 45 to 55 years of age. During this time, she may wish to seek menopause treatments.

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause.

It varies from woman to woman, but you may start to see signs of perimenopause in your mid-40s when estrogen levels start to fluctuate.

The perimenopause phase can last up to 10 years. During these years, your varying estrogen levels mean you’ll have changes in your menstrual cycle and ovulation. That’s what we’re going to focus on.

What Are the Symptoms of Perimenopause?

Because your ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are fluctuating, you may have irregular periods.

Some may be shorter while others will be longer and heavier. Irregular bleeding and spotting are also common, and you may skip periods. 

While irregular periods are common during perimenopause, there are some instances in which you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of our providers.

The following problems could indicate complications or problems: 

• You’re bleeding to the point that you have to change your pad or tampon every two hours  or less.
• You have bleeding between your periods. 
• Bleeding lasts more than seven days. 
• Your periods are fewer than 21 days apart.

In addition, you’ll also find that you’re having some of the symptoms of perimenopause are similar to menopause, such as: 

• Hot flashes
• Sleep problems (which may or may not be due to night sweats)
• Painful intercourse due to thinning vaginal tissue and insufficient lubrication
• Bladder control problems
• Mood swings

Women experience these symptoms in varying degrees. You may have only a couple of these symptoms. You may have none at all. 

3 Things You May Not Know About Perimenopause

1. Can you get pregnant during perimenopause? Yes!

Yes, you can still get pregnant when you’re in perimenopause. 

Remember, in order to officially be in menopause you have to have no periods for one year.

As long as you’re having periods—even irregular ones—there is a possibility that you could become pregnant.

Do not stop birth control until it is clear that you are in menopause. 

2. You may experience a change in cholesterol levels. 

Declining estrogen can cause an increase in “bad” cholesterol—called your LDL cholesterol.

This can increase your risk of heart disease.

3. You are at greater risk for osteoporosis.

As estrogen levels decline, you will begin to lose bone faster than it can be replaced.

It’s important to have a regular bone density exam to accurately assess your risk for developing osteoporosis.  New bone growth is much slower in perimenopause, but bone loss is actually related to menopause. 

Important Information About Menopause Treatments

Once you are in menopause, the primary menopausal treatments involve taking estrogen and/or progesterone to increase the amount of these hormones in your system.

It may be delivered systematically—that is, in a pill form that travels throughout your whole system— or locally, which means it is delivered through vaginal creams, rings or other topical treatments.

However, it’s important to note that hormones are not the only type of treatments available.

Please schedule an appointment and speak to us so we can provide additional information. 

What is  Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

You may have heard this term before. Some companies use these words to imply that the products they create are identical to your natural hormones, and therefore, indicate that they are safer than typical menopause treatments.

However, it’s important to realize that the FDA doesn’t recognize or regulate them.

In short, there haven’t been any studies to evaluate the safety or effectiveness of these products.  If you have any questions, please speak to us.

At Every Stage of Your Life, We’re Here for You

At Chapel Hill OBGYN, we have been caring for generations of women throughout every stage of their lives.

We consider it a privilege to treat you, whether you’re expecting your first child or you’re entering menopause. We would love to be your medical home. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.