Amenorrhea
Description
Amenorrhea is the absence of your period. Amenorrhea is not a disease, but it can be a sign of another case. Regular periods are a crucial indicator of general health. When not brought on by pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause, missing a period is often an indication of another medical condition. If a girl does not start menstruating by the age of 16, she has primary amenorrhea. Women who suffer an absence of more than three menstrual cycles after having regular periods are considered to have secondary amenorrhea. Amenorrhea affects around 1 in 25 women who are not pregnant, breastfeeding or going through menopause at some time in their life.
Symptoms
The main sign of amenorrhea is missing a period. Other symptoms may be noticed according to the cause of amenorrhea :
- Excess facial hair
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Lack of breast development
- Milky discharge from the breasts
- Vision changes
Visit a Gynaecologist (Gynaecology and Infertility doctor) if you have missed at least three menstrual cycles in a row or if you're 16 years of age or older and have never had a period.
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View MoreCauses
There are several probable causes of amenorrhea, including :
- Pregnancy
- Ovulation abnormalities are usually the cause of very irregular or frequently missed periods.
- If your period has not started by age 16, it may be due to a birth defect, anatomical abnormality, or other medical condition.
- Eating disorder (like anorexia)
- Overexercise
- Thyroid disorder (underactive or overactive thyroid)
- Obesity
- Family history of amenorrhea
- Birth control pills
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Diagnostics
If you have never menstruated (primary amenorrhea), the doctor will review your health history and do an exam.
For secondary amenorrhea, diagnosis starts with a pregnancy test. If it is negative, your gynaecologist may require the following tests :
- Genetic test to look for mutated genes
- Imaging tests like ultrasound or MRI to determine any abnormalities in your reproductive organs
- Thyroid function tests
- Ovary function tests
- Testosterone (“male hormone”) levels can detect polycystic ovary syndrome
- Estrogen (“female hormone”) levels
Treatment
Your amenorrhea's underlying cause will determine your treatment protocol. Your menstrual periods may occasionally be restarted by birth control pills or other hormone treatments. Medicines may be used to treat amenorrhea caused by thyroid or pituitary abnormalities. Surgery can be required if a tumor or structural obstruction is the source of the
