For most women, “that time of the month” or the days leading up to it are not their favorite. But menstruation is a sign of our ability as a species to reproduce, which is why the absence of a monthly period (“amenorrhea”) in girls and women from about 16 to 45 years old who are not pregnant is a health problem. There are two types of amenorrhea: if a girl has not started her first period by the age of 16, it’s called “primary amenorrhea”. “Secondary amenorrhea” is more common, affecting up to 7% of females, and occurs when the period has already started but then stops for 6 months or longer.
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