Amenorrhea

As defined by Mayo Clinic, Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation — one or more missed menstrual periods. Women who have missed at least three menstrual periods in a row have amenorrhea, as do girls who haven’t begun menstruation by age 15.

Amenorrhea might occur due to a family history of it, if the girls have an eating disorder or if they have participated in any strenuous athletic activity. It is also caused due to breastfeeding or during times of menopause.

Amenorrhea is caused in two ways:

• Primary Amenorrhea is when a girl reaches the age of 16 but still does not start menstruating.
• Secondary Amenorrhea occurs when a woman does not menstruate for about 3 months, despite having a regular period cycle.

Other causes of amenorrhea include issues in reproductive parts of a woman or in the glands that help regulate hormone levels.

What are the symptoms of Amenorrhea?

The most obvious symptom of Amenorrhea is missing periods for three continuous months or not beginning to menstruate until you are 15.

The other symptoms include:

Hair Loss

Headache

Excess facial hair

Acne

Pelvic Pain

It is imperative to see a gynaecologist if you identify any of these symptoms occurring in your body.

The major causes of Amenorrhea

The natural causes that lead to absence of menstruation are pregnancy, menopause or breastfeeding.

During these times, it is not always adviced to visit the doctor.

Amenorrhea indicates that a part of your body that contributes to your menstruation like ovaries, uterus and others are not working well.

Lifestyle factors and some other reasons that contribute to this problem are:

• Nutritional Deficiencies

Improper intake of nutrients or malnutrition can lead to Amenorrhea as it affects the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

• Birth Control

Some birth control pills or procedures might cause absence of periods. Methods like hormonal intrauterine device or injections can cause missed periods. Taking a new pill can also result in the same.

• Stress

Stress, both mental and physical, affects the hormone levels in the body. People with high levels of depression or anxiety miss their periods. When stress levels decrease, periods return to their normal levels.

• Improper body weight

Body weight, if too less or too excessive, causes lack in periods. Low body weight leads to functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. High body weight leads to hormonal imbalances, further leading to temporary amenorrhea.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome

PCOS is a hormonal disorder leading to high levels of hormones instead of the normal levels seen during menstruation cycles.

Treatment for Amenorrhea

The desired treatment is chosen after identifying the cause for missing periods. If it’s caused by hormonal issues, pituitary gland issues or such factors that can be treated with medications, the treatment is done accordingly.

If lifestyle factors are a reason for it, the doctor discusses them with the patient and also prescribes medications, if required.

We, at Dr ShivaniChaturvedi Obs and Gyn Super Speciality Centre, advice all women to keep a track of their patients and check if they encounter any symptoms. If you wish to visit a gynaecologist, feel free to visit our centre and get a primary examination done to rule out the cause for your missing periods and get satisfactory treatment.

Contact us if you have any issues regarding periods or other issues related to your reproductive parts.