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What is amenorrhea? |
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Amenorrhea is the absence of a monthly period. It can be primary or secondary. Primary amenorrhea is when a young woman’s period fails to start by age 16. Secondary amenorrhea is when a woman who has been having monthly periods, stops having them. |
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What causes amenorrhea? |
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Amenorrhea is expected and is normal during pregnancy, breast-feeding and menopause. At other times the absence of periods may be caused by a number of things, changes in weight (up or down), changes in exercise levels, stress, a hormone imbalance, oral contraceptives, medications, thyroid or pituitary problems, or uterine scarring. |
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When should I see a doctor? |
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If you are 16 years old and have never started a period. If you were previously having normal periods and they have stopped, but not for any of the normal reasons mentioned above. |
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What it a Pap smear? |
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A pap smear is a brushing to obtain cells from the cervix. These cells are then viewed under a microscope by a pathologist who looks for abnormalities. |
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When should I have a pap smear? |
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Previous recommendations from the Am. Congress of Ob/Gyn (ACOG) stated that a woman should have her first pap smear at age 21 or within 3 years of becoming sexually active. Those recommendations have been changed to simply state that a woman should begin having pap smears at age 21. When a woman is sexually active she should be examined at least yearly to evaluate for sexually transmitted diseases. |
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