The treatment for absent periods depends on what is thought to be causing the condition.

In some cases, a "wait and see" approach may be adopted in case your periods start or return by themselves. This approach is most often used for girls who have not yet started their periods, because in many of these cases periods will start naturally by 18 years of age.

If tests suggest an underlying medical condition is causing your absent periods, treatment will depend on the specific condition. It is sometimes possible to be treated by your GP, although some treatments are only available from specialists.

Not all cases of absent periods can be treated. For example, there is no way of making you have periods if you have androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Treatments for some of the more common causes of absent periods are described below.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome can be treated in a number of different ways, but hormone therapy is often recommended to restore a normal menstrual cycle. 

This will usually involve either taking the contraceptive pill or tablets containing a hormone called progesterone.

Read more about treating polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hypothalamic amenorrhoea

Hypothalamic amenorrhoea is absence of periods caused by things such as extreme weight loss, excessive exercise, stress and long-term (chronic) conditions. It can be treated by addressing the underlying cause.

If your symptoms are the result of excessive weight loss, you may be referred to a dietitian, who can advise on safe ways of regaining a healthy weight.

If your weight loss is the result of an eating disorder, such as anorexia, you will need to be referred to a psychiatrist (a doctor who specialises in treating mental health conditions) who has experience in treating eating disorders. Read more about treating anorexia nervosa.

If your symptoms are the result of excessive exercise, you will be advised to reduce your levels of physical activity. If you are a professional athlete or similar, you may benefit from a referral to a doctor who specialises in sports medicine. They should be able to advise about how you can maintain fitness and physical performance without disrupting your periods.

If your symptoms are the result of stress, a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) might help. CBT is a type of therapy that aims to help you manage your problems by changing how you think and act.

If your symptoms are the result of a long-term underlying health condition, treating this illness may help restore your periods. For example, if you have type 1 diabetes, you may need regular injections of insulin.

Hyperprolactinaemia

The treatment for hyperprolactinaemia (where a person has abnormally high levels of a hormone called prolactin) will depend on the underlying cause.

For example, if hyperprolactinaemia is the result of a brain tumour, surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be required to remove or shrink the tumour. If hyperprolactinaemia occurs as a side effect of a medicine, your medication may need to be reviewed.

Premature ovarian failure

If you have premature ovarian failure (when the ovaries stop producing eggs in women who should still be young enough to ovulate), you will usually be treated with hormone medication.

This may involve taking the contraceptive pill, or having a treatment called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

These treatments can help reduce your risk of complications associated with premature ovarian failure, such as osteoporosis (weakening of the bones), but they will not necessarily restore your periods.

Thyroid conditions

Treatment options for an overactive thyroid gland include thionamide medication, which helps reduce thyroid activity, and a type of radiotherapy called radioiodine treatment, which can be used to reduce the size of the thyroid gland.

Treatment options for an underactive thyroid gland include a medication called levothyroxine, which can stimulate thyroid activity.

Read more about treating an overactive thyroid and treating an underactive thyroid.