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Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation or periods in women above the age of 16.

Target Group

Females aged 16 or older are likely to suffer from this disease.

Type of Disease

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation and can be primary or secondary. The absence of menstrual bleeding and secondary sexual characteristics (e.g; breast development and pubic hair) in a girl by the age 14 years or the absence of menstrual bleeding with normal development of secondary sexual characteristics in a girl by the age of 16 years is termed as primary amenorrhea.

The absence of menstrual bleeding in a woman who was earlier menstruating but later stopped menstruating for3 or more months is termed as secondary amenorrhea.

Symptoms

Absence of menstruation is the main symptom of amenorrhea. The other symptoms are;

  • Headache
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Night sweats
  • Hot flushes
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Weight gain or weight loss
  • Anxiety
  • Increased hair growth in a male pattern

Affected Area

The organs affected by PMS are female sex organs, the uterus, and the ovaries.

Causes

Late puberty is the most common cause of primary amenorrhea. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, use of birth control pills and birth control shots are the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea. An abnormality in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, uterus, cervix, vagina, and ovaries, can cause amenorrhea. It can also be caused by depression, malnutrition, chronic illnesses, rapid weight gain or loss, cystic fibrosis, hypoglycemia, and recent surgery.

Risk to Others

Women having a hormonal problem or a genetic disorder are at a high risk of suffering from amenorrhea. Family history of amenorrhea is also a risk factor.

Risk to the Sufferer

Anxiety and emotional distress is caused by amenorrhea when the patients’ feel embarrassed about being different from other women. They may also undergo a lot of stress if the cause of amenorrhea is not established.

Treatment

The actual cause of amenorrhea determines the course of treatment to be followed.

Amenorrhea caused bybirth defectsmay require medications (hormones), surgery, or both. If tumor is the cause of amenorrhea then treatment requires the use of a drug calledbromocriptine.

Radiation therapy and oral contraceptives may also be used. Some simple lifestyle modifications will also help in treating amenorrhea.

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