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| What Is Amenorrhea? |
Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation is known as Amenorrhea. There are two types of Amenorrhea –primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea develops by age of 16 years. Secondary amenorrhea is developing in those women who have been affected with primary amenorrhea.
There are no menstrual periods by age of 16years in the case of primary amenorrhea. But in secondary amenorrhea, you stopped having menstrual periods. If you have no menstrual periods, pregnancy may be the first reason.
There are so many reasons for irregular menstrual periods. Amenorrhea is a serious health problem for women. Your health care providers can be found the problem by your feelings and medical history.
What are the causes of Symptoms of Amenorrhea?
The main symptom of this disease is no menstrual periods. Other symptoms of Amenorrhea are headache, discharge of milky nipple, hair loss, and increase in facial hair or vision changes.
What are the causes of amenorrhea?
Causes of Primary amenorrhea-
Problems with the hypothalamus: Hypothalamus is the area in the brain that regulates menstrual periods. Eating disorders, more exercise, and psychological stress can be affected the hypothalamus.
Lack of reproductive organs: when a baby girl is born without the cervix, uterus, and vagina. Her reproductive system is incomplete and didn’t work normally. A girl has no menstrual period due to any major parts of the reproductive system.
Chromosomal abnormalities: sometimes chromosomal abnormalities can be caused by the absence of menstruation. Chronic illness also the cause of amenorrhea.
Pituitary disease: The pituitary gland also regulates the menstrual periods. But sometimes a tumor may stop the work of the pituitary gland.
Structural abnormality to the vagina: wall in the vagina may stop the blood from the cervix and uterus. Amenorrhea can be developed due to the abnormal structure of the vagina.
Causes of secondary amenorrhea:
Pregnancy: pregnancy is the main cause of secondary amenorrhea.
Stress: psychological stress is also a cause of secondary amenorrhea. Stress affected the hypothalamus area that regulates the menstrual periods.
Medication: Medications such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, and chemotherapy drugs may cause amenorrhea.
More exercise and low body weight: low body weight may disrupt hormonal functions and eating disorders like anorexia can be caused by amenorrhea. Women who participate in gymnastics and long-distance running may develop amenorrhea. Other causes include high energy expenditure and stress.
Thyroid malfunction: The thyroid commonly causes irregular menstrual periods. The pituitary gland produces the prolactin hormone. Unbalanced prolactin levels may interrupt the menstrual periods.
Diagnosis:
Your health care provider may take a blood test, tests for thyroid, and blood tests. The pelvic exam will be recommended by the doctor for a pregnancy test. A doctor can also evaluate the level of prolactin hormonal. Sometimes ultrasound, computerized tomography, or laparoscopy may be preferred by the doctor.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on causes of primary and secondary amenorrhea. Oral contraceptives will be recommended by the doctor to treat amenorrhea. Medications are also effective to treat, in case of amenorrhea developed by pituitary problems and thyroid. You should change your lifestyle or physical activity and decrease your stress level.
Prevention:
- You should maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- You should take a balanced diet.
- You should decrease your stress level.
- You should take more and more rest.
