Amenorrhea is a medical term that refers to the abnormal absence of menstrual periods in women. There are two types of Amenorrhea which includes primary and secondary. Primary amenorrhea refers to when a woman has never had her period, even after reaching the age of 14-16. Secondary amenorrhea, on the other hand, is characterized by missing menstrual periods for at least three consecutive cycles.
What are the symptoms of amenorrhea?
It often serves as an indication that there is another underlying health issue that may be causing irregularity. Symptoms associated with amenorrhea may include headaches, changes in vision, nausea, extra facial and body hair, breast size changes, and secretory discharge from the breasts.
What are the causes of primary and secondary amenorrhea?
Women who tend to be at risk of primary amenorrhea may have a family history of it or early menopause, as well as genetic or chromosomal defects that can hinder their ovaries’ function and menstrual cycles. Other contributing factors include a family history of early menopause, genetic changes, being underweight or severely overweight, eating disorders, exercising too much, poor dieting habits, and stress.
Secondary Amenorrhea can be caused by various factors, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause. Furthermore, birth control methods such as pills, injections, or intrauterine devices can also influence menstrual cycles. It can also be an effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, polycystic ovary syndrome, fragile X syndrome, problems with the thyroid or pituitary gland, hypothalamic disease, or uterine scar tissue.
Diagnosing Amenorrhea – The Most Common Tests and Procedures
If you suspect that you have amenorrhea, it is best to consult with the best gynecologist in Ahmedabad. Gynecologist will usually start with a physical examination and health history review. For those with secondary amenorrhea, the first step is a pregnancy test. To get an accurate diagnosis, the doctor might recommend additional tests such as karyotype testing for chromosomes, and genetic testing for any mutation in FMR1.
In addition, the gynecologist in Ahmedabad may also recommend below imaging tests for female organs examination and blood tests to check your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels, testosterone (commonly referred to as “male hormone”) levels for PCOS and estrogen (the “female hormone”).
Amenorrhea: Prevention and Treatment for Amenorrhea
In order to help prevent amenorrhea, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating nutritious, balanced meals and getting regular exercise can be beneficial. If you are either very underweight or overweight, it is important that you consult your doctor about how to normalize your weight. Keep track of the frequency of your periods each month, as this can help identify amenorrhea early on. Additionally, tracking any changes from month to month in regard to menstruation can be beneficial when trying to conceive in the future.
Treating amenorrhea depends on the exact cause. Depending on what that is, lifestyle modifications such as changes to diet and activity levels may be prescribed. Hormonal medications, birth control pills, and hormone therapy are also viable options that help to bring balance back to hormones. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct genetic or chromosomal defects, remove a pituitary tumor or break down uterine scar tissue.
If you suffer from amenorrhea, treatment can help you either regain your menstrual cycle or manage the underlying medical condition that caused it. Depending on the cause of your amenorrhea, getting pregnant may still be possible either naturally or through assisted reproductive technologies. If a woman is considering treating her amenorrhoea, it is important to understand the benefits, risks, and side effects of any treatment plan as well as whether she will always have amenorrhea or if it is something that could happen again.
