What is amenorrhoea?
The lack of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age is known as amenorrhea. During puberty, menopause, pregnancy, and lactation, it may be physiological. Aside from that, a number of gynecological disorders can result in amenorrhea.
There are two types of amenorrhea:
Females under 16 who have not yet experienced their first period but already exhibit other puberty-related characteristics, such as enlarged breasts and body hair, may experience primary amenorrhea.
Secondary amenorrhea: the lack of menstruation for three months in women whose periods were never irregular, or for nine months in women who have experienced oligomenorrhea (a menstrual period that is four or more days late) and who are not pregnant, nursing, or going through menopause.
What is the prognosis of amenorrhoea?
The cause of secondary amenorrhea has a significant impact on the prognosis. The prognosis is usually favorable if the underlying cause can be addressed. However, the prognosis is worse if the underlying cause is incurable or if the condition is extremely severe (e.g., womb cancer).
What are the symptoms of amenorrhoea?
Based on the cause of amenorrhoea, some of the symptoms may include the following
- headache
- vision disorders
- hirsutism (excessive facial hair growth)
- acne
- pelvic pain
- vaginal dryness
- hair loss
- hot flushes
- night sweats
- sleep disorders
- excessive weight loss or gain
How is amenorrhoea diagnosed?
To formulate an accurate diagnosis of what is causing amenorrhoea, you may have to do one or more of the following:
- going through the main symptoms presented
- pelvic examination
- breasts and genital organs examination
- pregnancy test (to confirm or exclude a potential pregnancy),
- test to analyse FSH, LH, TSH and prolactin hormone levels,
- pelvic ultrasound (to see if there’s any anatomical anomalies),
- CT scan and/or head MRI scan
- hysteroscopy
What causes amenorrhoea?
There are many potential causes for amenorrhoea, which can be associated with:
- Natural causes: pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause
- Being on (any kind of) birth control
- Taking certain medications, such as antipsychotics, chemotherapeutic agents, antidepressants, blood pressure control medications, and allergies control medications
- Weight loss associated with anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- Morbid obesity
- Overexertion
- Stress
- Illegal drug abuse
- Hormone imbalances caused by a tumour of the hypothalamus or of the pituitary gland, malnutrition, PCOS, thyroid conditions, or Cushing’s syndrome
- Anatomical anomalies of the reproductive system: uterine scarring or intrauterine adhesions, partial or total removal of the uterus, malformations of the vagina
- Radiotherapy
- Depression and other psychiatric disorders
How can amenorrhoea be prevented?
Only if the factors that cause it, such as anorexia nervosa, overtraining, malnutrition, stress, or obesity, can be controlled or avoided will amenorrhea be avoided.
How can amenorrhoea be treated?
Treatment options include:
• Following a specific diet to lose weight or to get to a normal weight if you have bulimia or anorexia nervosa;
Reducing your exercise regimen if overtraining is the root cause; stopping any medications that might be contributing to your amenorrhea
- Surgery, if pituitary tumors, intrauterine adhesions, or genital tract abnormalities are the cause;
- Pharmacotherapy, if PCOS is the cause of the amenorrhea
Which doctor should I talk to?
You must see a specialist gynecologist in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment for amenorrhea.