Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual
bleeding in a woman of reproductive age.
Amenorrhea has two main types:
Primary Amenorrhea: This is when a girl over age 15 has never had her
period.
Secondary Amenorrhea: This is when a woman who has had regular periods
stops having her period for six months or longer.
The most common cause of amenorrhea is
pregnancy. Other causes of amenorrhea include problems with the reproductive
organs or with the glands that help regulate hormone levels. Treatment of the
underlying condition often resolves amenorrhea.
SYMPTOMS:
The main sign of amenorrhea is the absence of
menstrual periods. Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, you might experience
other signs or symptoms along with the absence of periods, such as:
·
Milky nipple discharge
·
Hair loss
·
Headache
·
Vision changes
·
Excess facial hair
·
Pelvic pain
·
Acne
CAUSES:
Amenorrhea can occur for a variety of reasons. Some are
normal during the course of a woman's life, while others may be a side effect
of medication or a sign of a medical problem.
During
the normal course of life, one may experience amenorrhea for natural reasons,
such as:
·
Pregnancy
·
Breast-feeding
·
Menopause
MEDICATION/CONTRACEPTIVES: Some women who take
birth control pills may not have periods. This may continue even after stopping
oral contraceptives, it may take some time before regular ovulation and
menstruation return. Contraceptives that are injected or implanted also may
cause amenorrhea, as can some types of intrauterine devices.
Certain medications can also cause menstrual
periods to stop, including some types of:
·
Antipsychotics
·
Cancer chemotherapy
·
Antidepressants
·
Blood pressure drugs
·
Allergy medications
STRESS: Mental stress can temporarily alter the
hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Ovulation and menstruation may stop
as a result. Regular menstrual periods usually resume after stress decreases.
HORMONAL IMBALANCE: Many
types of medical problems can cause hormonal imbalance, including:
·
Polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS).
·
Thyroid
malfunction.
·
Pituitary
tumor.
Problems with the sexual organs themselves
also can cause amenorrhea. Examples include:
·
Lack of
reproductive organs. Sometimes problems arise during fetal
development that lead to a girl being born without some major part of her
reproductive system, such as her uterus, cervix or vagina. Because her
reproductive system didn't develop normally, she can't have menstrual cycles.
·
Structural
abnormality of the vagina. An
obstruction of the vagina may prevent visible menstrual bleeding. A membrane or
wall may be present in the vagina that blocks the outflow of blood from the
uterus and cervix.
RISK FACTORS:
Factors that may increase your risk of
amenorrhea includes:
·
Family
history. If other women in your family have experienced
amenorrhea, you may inherit a predisposition for the problem.
·
Eating
disorders. If you have an eating disorder, such as
anorexia or bulimia, you are at higher risk of developing amenorrhea.
·
Athletic training. Rigorous athletic training can increase your risk
of amenorrhea.
TREATMENT:
Treatment usually depends on the cause of the
amenorrhea.
Treatments for amenorrhea may include
medications, surgery, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these measures.
Lifestyle changes may include:
- Taking steps to reach a
healthy weight and maintain that weight (if you're under- or overweight)
- Interventions to reduce
stress
- If you're an athlete,
modifying the way you train or eat
Medical treatments for amenorrhea may
include:
- Hormonal medications, such as
birth control pills
- Estrogen replacement
therapy
- Medications for PCOS
Surgical treatments for amenorrhea may
include:
- Removal of scar tissue in the
uterus
- Removal of noncancerous
pituitary tumor
