Amenorrhea may present as primary (menstrual cycles never started) or as secondary (they started, but then stopped). There are various hormonal or structural causes for this, which should be evaluated by an experienced gynecology provider. Sometimes we determine a girl is simply a “late-bloomer”, and other times we identify a significant hormonal dysfunction that should be treated.

We recommend that if a teen girl has not started her period by the age of 15 or 16, she should be evaluated. In addition, girls that skip periods regularly even after they’ve been menstruating for 2 years, should also be evaluated.