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Missing your period once or often without being pregnant is known as amenorrhea. Specifically, secondary amenorrhea happens when a young healthy woman who has been having their period misses it.
Here are some of the risks that come with missing your period.
1. It can make mental issues worse
Medications like anti-depressants, anti-psychotic, and obsessive-compulsive disorder drugs can affect your menstrual cycle hence secondary amenorrhea. On the other hand, missing your period for extended periods of time can cause psychological distress which can make the disorder worse.
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2. Prolonged missing periods
Missing your period the first time can lead to recurrent incidents. Stress can affect the hypothalamus which then interrupts your menstrual cycle. A missing period can trigger the body's stress response which then prevents the period from starting. This loop can affect the hormonal mechanism responsible for periods;
- The hypothalamus regulates the pituitary gland
- The pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone which triggers the ovaries
- The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone.
3. Infertility and issues with pregnancy
Without ovulating you can have difficulty getting pregnant. It can also trigger miscarriage and other pregnancy problems. Irregular periods can be a sign of issues with getting pregnant and sustaining the pregnancy.
4. Osteoporosis
When you miss your period, the body doesn't release enough estrogen. If the condition continues or is frequent, it can lead to the weakening of the bones. This can trigger bone health issues.
5. Cardiovascular issues
The same thing applies to your heart health when there's low estrogen produced. It can lead to problems in the blood vessels, and heart muscles, and heart attacks.
6. Pelvic pain
You may also experience pain in the pelvic region. This is especially true if the cause of amenorrhea is an anatomical problem.
7. Menopause syndrome
You may start to experience health issues that occur when menopause starts in older women. This can include hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Conclusion
A missed period that is not connected to pregnancy can bring a host of health issues. Although they may not be serious depending on the cause of the misses period, it is best to get professional help right away.