Are there actually any health problems associated with a woman's periods stoppin!

Are there actually any health problems associated with a woman's periods stopping?

i'm not sure if this is a totally stupid question or not, but i know that it means she can't get pregnant, but if she doesn't want to, could there be any other problems? thanks =)

The most common reason for missing your period is that you skipped an ovulation -- when the ovary releases an egg. And simply put, no ovulation, no period. When you're stressed or under other trying conditions, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that stimulates ovulation) will actually interrupt the cycle, thereby working to avoid a pregnancy during a less than opportune time. Biologists cite this as an example of the "fight or flight" response.

Besides garden-variety stress, increased physical activity and changes in your weight, diet, sleep habits, or mood may cause you to stop ovulating. Even travel to a different time zone can cause you to miss a period or two.

Fortunately, the cycle usually returns to normal when the stress or other lifestyle change is managed. If a woman goes for six months or more without a period, she may have a more extreme form of menstrual interruption called "secondary amenorrhea." This often occurs in zealous athletes and in women with eating disorders. When a woman's fat stores drop to below 15% of her total body weight, she will often stop menstruating because low body weight and body fat decrease her supply of the necessary chemical building blocks for the hormones involved. Again, it is the body's "fight or flight" reaction to these extreme changes, working to prevent an ill-timed pregnancy.

Another reason for missing a period is dysfunction of the thyroid gland. A simple panel of blood tests can determine whether thyroid activity is abnormal.

Occasionally, a tumor of the pituitary gland in the brain secretes excess amounts of a hormone called prolactin, which promotes breast milk production and prevents ovulation (and therefore another pregnancy) while a woman is nursing a newborn. If you are lactating in addition to having missed periods, see your doctor immediately. If a small tumor is found, medications can be used to treat it; larger tumors, however, may require surgery.

The onset of menopause is, obviously, another reason for missed periods. While the average age of onset is 51.4 years, some 5% of women (usually heavy smokers or those with a family history of early menopause) experience true menopause before the age of 40.

Finally, keep in mind that the diagnosis and treatment of your missed periods may take some time. Once pregnancy is ruled out, many physicians will wait up to three months after a period is missed and does not return before beginning an extensive investigation. After excluding other causes and advising you to make some changes to your eating and exercise habits, your doctor may prescribe the hormone progesterone to get your cycle back on track.