Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea General Information

Amenorrhea or AmE represents the absence of menses that can occur in puberty or any time during a productive woman’s life. Amenorrhea has a primary form (when the periods never start), characterized by the fact that a girl has not had menstrual periods by the age of 15, and a secondary form (menstruation cycles ceasing) described by the fact that a woman had previously had menses, but then the periods stopped. It is well known that during her breastfeeding (lactation) and pregnancy, a woman stops having menstrual periods. These two conditions are proved to be the basis of a type of contraception. This is why the thought that you are pregnant may first come into your mind when you observe the lack of the usual menstrual periods. But the pregnancy is not always the only explanation for your condition. You must have in mind that Amenorrhea is not a disease; it is simply a sign that may result from another more serious health condition. Almost for all women, not knowing why their menses are gone is a stressful thought it may seem a lifetime while waiting your menstruation to reappear. Try not to panic! Stay calm and check this problem with your health care provider. This disorder can easily be solved after a simple examination and after you let the doctor know some things about your medical history. Usually, this problem resolves by treating the underlying disorder. The absence of menses can also occur during after menopause and in the childhood (outside the actual reproductive period).

Amenorrhea Symptoms

Amenorrhea Treatment

If you have never had menstrual periods and you are 15 or older, you are strongly advised to seek immediate medical care service because you may suffer from Amenorrhea. Also, if you have had previously menses but they stopped for more than three months in a row you should call your health care provider for an appointment. This medical disorder is just a sign of some other more serious health problems that could really put your life in danger. Because there are plenty of causes that could determine the appearance of Amenorrhea, the testing may take a while and may require a combination of exams. Before proceeding with any treatment it is very important to determine the exact cause of this disorder. First, you may need to do a pregnancy test and other examinations of your pelvis to check if there are any kinds of problems with your reproductive organs or with your pregnancy, if there is one. If there is not a pregnancy, the patient will have to accept a physical examination and must inform the doctor about her medical history. Then, you will have to do some blood tests that will show the hormone levels.

If the menstrual periods have stopped because of the decreased quantity of estrogen, the specialist will perform a so called progestin challenge test. During this test you will take progestogen (a hormonal medication) during 15 days in order to trigger bleeding. Further testing depends on the previous results of any exams you took. For example, your doctor may need imaging tests (magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans, computerized tomography or CT scans and ultrasounds) to discover if you have any tumors of the pituitary gland or other structural abnormalities of your reproductive organs. In the last step of testing, hysteroscopy or laparoscopy are usually done. These two are minimally invasive surgical techniques that are used to view your internal organs. All the treatments for this disease depend on what caused Amenorrhea. You may receive some suggestions from your health care provider to change the physical activities, stress level and the lifestyle in general (depending on what weight you have). Contraceptives are prescribed as a method for treating Amenorrhea in the case that you are an athlete or you have PCOS. Other medications are given if your menses are gone resulting from pituitary or thyroid disorders. But you can easily avoid that your menses are being interrupt, especially by maintaining a healthy style of living. If you do not have a healthy weight, achieve it by changing your diet and your physical exercises. Also, try to maintain a healthy balance between work, rest and recreation. If you are stressed, try to avoid the areas that bring conflicts and stress in your life. Seek help from your family, doctor or friends. You can not do this all by yourself! You should be also very careful with the changes that occur in your menstrual cycle and if these are worrying you, demand your doctor advices. Always keep notes of the periods of your menses, writing down the date when they start and finish, this is very helpful in case you develop Amenorrhea.