Secondary Amenorrhea & Fertility: Understanding Pregnancy Possibilities

Two percent of U.S. women will suffer from secondary amenorrhea during their lifetime. This is a condition in which there are missed menstrual periods, without a pregnancy or other common cause such as stress. Women suffering from secondary amenorrhea find it more difficult but not impossible to become pregnant.

Is pregnancy possible?

• Secondary amenorrhea does not cause infertility in woman, unless a loss of period has been evident without treatment for many months or even years. In 85 percent of cases, a simple change in diet or lifestyle might bring hormones back in balance, allowing for a healthy, easy pregnancy.

Pregnancy, continued

• When lifestyle changes don't work, hormone replacements might be prescribed. Untreated secondary amenorrhea can make it more difficult to get pregnant, and it can lead to osteoporosis.

Considerations

• If you haven't had your period for a few months and aren't pregnant, it's important to see a doctor. Unless it is treated, secondary amenorrhea can have unpleasant side effects, and it will make pregnancy later in life very difficult to achieve.