What is Amenorrhea | Dr Rama Sofat Hospital

                                  What is Amenorrhea? 

Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstrual periods, it may be either primary or secondary as explained by Dr. Rama Sofat.

Types Of amenorrhea

Primary amenorrhea

Primary amenorrhea is typically the result of a genetic or anatomic condition in young females that never develop menstrual periods (by age 16) and is not pregnant. Many genetic conditions that are characterized by amenorrhea are circumstances in which some or all of the normal internal female organs either fail to form normally during fetal development or fail to function properly. Dr Rama Sofat explains that diseases of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (a region of the brain important for the control of hormone production) can also cause primary amenorrhea since these areas play a critical role in the regulation of ovarian hormones.

Secondary amenorrhea

This is when a woman who has had regular periods stops having her period for six months or longer.Pregnancy is an obvious cause of amenorrhea and is the most common reason for secondary amenorrhea. Further causes are varied and may include conditions that affect the ovaries, uterus, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland.

Post-pill amenorrhea

Women who have stopped taking oral contraceptive pills should experience the return of menstruation within three months after discontinuing pill use.

What Causes Amenorrhea?

Natural changes in the body can cause your periods to stop.For instance, women stop menstruating during pregnancy and breastfeeding.There are many potential causes and risk factors for amenorrhea. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

Causes and risk factors for amenorrhea include:

1. Low body weight: Women who perform considerable amounts of exercise on a regular basis or lose a significant amount of weight are at risk of developing hypothalamic amenorrhoea.

                                                  Low weight girl

2. Drug-induced: Certain medications, particularly contraceptive medications, can induce amenorrhoea in a healthy woman. The lack of menstruation usually begins shortly after beginning the medication and can take up to a year to resume after stopping a medication.

Woman consuming medicine

3. Hormonal imbalance: Another major cause of the amenorrhea is the hormonal imbalance. This is normally regulated by the pituitary and thyroid gland. Low estrogen level and the high testosterone level can also lead to the problem of amenorrhea.

4. Physical defects: Dr Rama Sofat explains that structural problem in female reproductive organs can lead to the problem of the amenorrhea. Physical defects include birth defects, tumors or infections. 

Amenorrhea Symptoms

Acne formation in woman

• Weight gain or weight loss
• Changes in breast size, or milky discharge from the breast
• Acne
• Hair loss

What is the treatment for amenorrhea?

Dr Rama Sofat provides information that assisted reproductive technologies and the administration of gonadotropin medications (drugs that stimulate follicle maturation in the ovaries) can be appropriate for women with some types of amenorrhea who wish to attempt to become pregnant.

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