Amenorrhea (Absence Of Menstruation)

What Is Amenorrhea (Absence Of Menstruation)?

Amenorrhea is a medical term which means the absence of a woman's menstrual period during her reproductive age. When a woman is pregnant her period stops, also lactation (breastfeeding) causes amenorrhea. Lactation Amenorrhea Method is a term used for a form of contraception that exists when a woman is breastfeeding.

Amenorrhea is generally divided into two types:

Primary Amenorrhea

Menstruation fails to occur during puberty, it never takes place. According to the NHS (National Health Service), UK, it is considered as abnormal of the girl has not started sexual physical development and menstruation by the time she is 14 years old, or if periods started by 16 but her normal sexual physical development hasn't.

Secondary Amenorrhea

The woman's period starts, but then ceases to occur. This can be physiologic (natural, normal), as during pregnancy or lactation, or pathologic, when caused by something that is medically harmful. In most countries doctors define this type as an absence of menstruation for at least six months in a female you used to have normal periods. It is usually caused by some gynecological disorder, or severe underweight. If a woman's BMI (body mass index) falls below 19, her risk of developing amenorrhea increases significantly. Serious weight loss may be caused by a physical illness or an eating disorder. According to the NHS, about 3% of females are affected. A significant number of competitive long-distance runners and professional ballet dancers are affected. Women's periods may also stop as a result of severe emotional upheaval or extreme stress. Some medications, such as progesterone-only contraceptives, as well as a number of psychiatric drugs may result in the absence of menstruation. Amenorrhea can also be a consequence of a long-term illness, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, or premature ovarian failure.

The word amenorrhea comes from the Greek words "a" (meaning "no"), "men" (meaning "month"), and "rhoja" (meaning "flow") - no monthly flow.

What are the treatment options for amenorrhea?

If the absent periods are caused by lifestyle factors, such as excessive exercise - a change of exercise plan, or even adjusting one's diet may help bring the periods back. Excessive weight loss may require a professionally supervised weight gain regime. Those with some type of eating disorder will be under the supervision of a psychiatrist and also a nutritionist/dietician.

Some people with an underactive thyroid may experience loss of menstruation. Treatment with thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, will usually bring them back.

People who become overweight from polycystic ovary syndrome may find that losing weight helps.

If the doctor determines that the amenorrhea was caused by emotional or mental stress, psychological therapy may be ordered.

Periods may come back if a patient with premature ovary failure receives HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

If the patient's genitals have not developed as they should, surgery may be needed.

Sources: National Health Service (UK), Medical News Today internal archives