Amenorrhea is a medical term referring to the absence of menstruation. Typically, this diagnosis doesn't come into play until you've missed three consecutive periods or if menstruation hasn't occurred by age 16. Many factors can contribute to this...
The definition of a regular or normal menstrual cycle can vary widely from woman to woman, according to Medline Plus. On average menstruation occurs every 28 days and lasts from 4 to 7 days. A woman may skip periods due to pregnancy, hormonal...
The National Library of Medicine reports an estimated one out of five American women over 50 years old has osteoporosis. This disorder is characterized by weakening and brittleness of the bones. Osteoporosis may affect men however; females have a...
Antidepressants may interfere with a woman's menstrual cycle. Some women taking antidepressants may experience side effects and changes in their monthly cycle or menstrual period. Depression is approximately twice as common in women as it is in...
Exercise can have an effect on your menstrual cycle when factored with excessive energy expenditure, low body fat and disordered eating. Amenorrhea of at least three months is characteristic of the female athlete triad, a disorder that often goes...
Testosterone is a hormone produced by males in their testes and females in their ovaries and adrenal glands that helps produce red blood cells, muscles and bone density. It also affects libido and sperm production in men and menstruation in women....
Black cohosh, or Actaea racemosa, is a perennial herb that grows wild in the shady woodlands of the Appalachian forests of Eastern North America, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Black cohosh is also known as squawroot,...
From time to time a woman will experience an irregular menstrual cycle. Irregular menstrual periods can occur when there is a hormonal imbalance, as a consequence of stress, weight gain or weight loss. Losing a considerable amount of weight can...
Menopause is a natural occurrence for women who, due to age, have their final menstrual period and experience a reduction in hormone levels, especially estrogen. Once 12 consecutive months pass after a woman's final period, she is considered...
Botanically known as Lepidium meyeni, maca grows in the high altitudes of the Peruvian Andes. The cultivation of maca is more than 6,000 years old. The root is used medicinally to give the body endurance, and according to the website Raintree...
The NuvaRing is a small flexible plastic ring inserted into the vagina to prevent pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, the hormones in NuvaRing are the same hormones as in the birth control pill, estrogen and progestin. These hormones work...
Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone made in the ovaries to assist with conception and sustaining pregnancy. During a female's normal menstrual cycle, the level of progesterone fluctuates depending on what stage of the cycle she is in....
Femcon Fe is a medication in a classification of drugs known as oral contraceptives. Femcon Fe is a combination oral contraceptive, which means it is made up of two different hormones--norethindrone (progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (estrogen)....
Factors that often play a role in the regularity and flow of a woman's menstrual cycle include hormone changes, genetics, serious medical conditions and body mass index. Of all these factors, you have the most control over your body mass index, or...
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce adequate insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Adolescents may develop type 1 diabetes, which causes little to no insulin production, or type 2 diabetes, which causes the body to...
Millions of people strive to lose weight each day. Diet programs, exercise routines and weight-loss surgeries are becoming mainstream as the number of obese adults rises each day. People sometimes become so wrapped up in losing weight that they...
Healthy body fat levels are an important part of overall good health. A body fat level which is too low is considered unhealthy, just as one which is too high. Having too much body fat around the stomach can contribute to poor health. Various...
Exercise is an important part of everyday health and well-being, keeping the functions of the body in proper working order. Exercise positively affects mood, digestion, the cardiovascular system and the lungs, which in turn affect quality of life....
Anorexia is characterized by obsessive weight loss and starvation. There are two types of anorexia nervosa: restricting type and purging type. In restricting type anorexia, the individual works to control weight gain by restricting calorie and...
Pregnancy, whether planned or unexpected, can be an exciting time in a woman's life. Knowing the signs and symptoms of pregnancy can help a woman know when to take better care of herself and seek medical attention. While not all women will...
The menstrual cycle or period is a process the female body goes through in order to prepare for pregnancy. Approximately every 28 days the uterus develops a new lining in preparation for a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur this lining is...
Yaz is an oral contraceptive that contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. It is used to prevent pregnancy and the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Yaz may also be used for the treatment of acne in women that are using Yaz for...
Brain tumors destroy brain cells or damage them through inflammation. They can put pressure on parts of the brain or within the skull. The disruption of brain signals affects areas throughout the body. Symptoms depend on the location, size or rate...
Having a regular menstrual cycle is a sign that your body is working normally. There are a lot of hormones at work during menstruation, and your cycle can be affected by many things, including exercise. Some types of exercise can change the...
Muscle spasms in the vagina, or vaginismus, occur without the woman's awareness or control, causing extreme tightness at the vaginal opening. Vaginismus.com states women suffering from vaginal muscle spasms cannot participate in sexual...
The body relies on proper nutrition to function. People stop eating for various reasons, such as loss of appetite from disease or medication, an attempt to lose weight or an eating disorder. Without food, the body will deteriorate and eventually...
When a fertilized egg begins to divide into a cell ball called a zygote, it communicates to your body that you're pregnant by using the hormone hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin. If your hCG levels don't increase appropriately, it can be a sign...
Safflower oil comes from the safflower plant, which is part of the sunflower family. Safflower oil is colorless and odorless. It is used in cooking, salad dressings, paint, cosmetics, medicines and commercial products. It can also be taken as a...
Many women interested in hormonal birth control consider using the contraceptive implant. This device, sold under the brand name Implanon, goes under the skin of the upper arm and releases the hormone progestin. This thickens cervical mucus, thins...
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation and can happen during puberty or later in life. Amenorrhea generally does not result from a serious condition. However, not knowing why menstruation has stopped can be stressful. Learn about the symptoms...