By Dr Zulfikar BuxAssistant Professor of Emergency MedicineAbsent or irregular periods are periods that do not happen at all or that happen less that six to eight timesDr Zulfikar Buxa year. If a woman does not get her period for a while,http://www.soccerpro.us.com/Arsenal-FC/, it might be because she is pregnant. In some cases, it might be that she has a medical condition that affects her brain or reproductive system.WHAT CAUSES ABSENT OR IRREGULAR PERIODS?Absent or irregular periods can be caused by:* Pregnancy*PCOS (which stands for “polycystic ovary syndrome”). In women with this condition,Cheap Nike Free Run Shoes, the ovaries make too much male hormone. This can disrupt a woman’s periods and cause excess facial hair, acne, and problems with weight. PCOS is the most common cause of absent or irregular periods.* Being too thin or having too little body fat* Exercising too much* Too much prolactin – Prolactin is a hormone made in the “pituitary gland”,Air Max 97 Uk, which is a small organ at the base of the brain.*Early menopause – Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when she naturally stops having periods. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. But in some women, menopause comes early – before the age of 40. Early menopause happens when the ovaries run out of eggs earlier than normal.* Some medicines, including birth control pillsSHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?See your doctor if:* You are older than 15 and still have not had your period* You used to get periods, but you have not had a period for more than three months* Your periods happen more than 45 days apartWHAT OTHER SYMPTOMS SHOULD I WATCH FOR?Make sure to tell your doctor if you:* Think you might be pregnant* Have family members with irregular periods* Have bad acne or hair on your chest or face*? Have gained weight and are having trouble losing it* Have hot flashes, which feel like a wave of heat that starts in your chest and face and then moves through your body* Have night sweats, which are hot flashes that happen when you are asleep* Have new headaches or trouble seeing* Notice milky fluid coming out of your breasts* Are under lots of stress* Have recently lost weight*Are exercising more than you used to*Have changed how much you eat or what kinds of foods you eat* Are taking any medicines, herbs,Brett Favre Falcons Jersey UK, or vitaminsARE THERE TESTS I SHOULD HAVE?Your doctor will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation.Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of absent or irregular periods:* Pregnancy test?– Pregnancy is a common cause of missed periods. Your doctor will want to find out if you are pregnant before doing any other tests.* Blood tests?– These measure hormones that affect the reproductive system.* Thyroid Function Test?– Your thyroid gland controls your metabolism and can cause irregular periods if its malfunctioning.* Pelvic ultrasound?– This test uses sound waves to make a picture of your uterus, cervix, and vagina. The picture can show if there is something wrong with these organs.HOW ARE ABSENT AND IRREGULAR PERIODS TREATED?That depends on what is causing your missed periods,Cheap Nike Air Max 97 Shoes, and on whether you want to get pregnant. Possible treatments include:* Birth control pills to make periods regular* Losing weight if you are overweight* Medicines to help you get pregnant if you are having trouble getting pregnant on your own* Changing the way you eat and exercise,Brian Campbell Jersey, such as:•Eating more calories•Gaining weight if you weigh too little•Easing up on exercise, if you exercise a lot•Reducing stress* Hormones to treat hot flashes (if you are going through early menopause)* Medicines to lower prolactin levels (if your pituitary gland is making too much prolactin)CAN ABSENT AND IRREGULAR PERIODS BE PREVENTED?You can reduce your chances of missing periods by eating well and staying at a healthy weight. Being too thin or too heavy can cause irregular periods. Of course avoiding stress is always a helpful option.