Amenorrhea: Causes and Treatment
Most women deal with menstruation on a monthly basis. Some women have health issues that cause their periods to be irregular, and others suffer from a lack of menstruation. This is called amenorrhea if a patient has failed to have a period three months in a row. Girls over the age of 15 who have not yet had a period are also diagnosed with amenorrhea. There can be many things that cause this issue, and it can be treated.
Amenorrhea Causes
There are several things that can cause amenorrhea, and the most common cause is pregnancy. Women do not menstruate while pregnant. Other causes can vary from serious health problems to common issues. Finding the cause of the problem is important, as it can lead to the proper diagnosis and treatment. Some other common causes of amenorrhea include:
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
- Antipsychotics
- Cancer chemotherapy
- Antidepressants
- Blood pressure drugs
- Allergy medications
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Lower bodyweight
- Excessive exercise
- Stress
- Thyroid malfunction
- Pituitary tumor
- Premature menopause
- Uterine scarring
- Lack of reproductive organs
- Structural abnormality of the vagina
Amenorrhea Symptoms
In most cases, amenorrhea is a symptom or a normal reaction to a something the body is going through. Some people don’t even notice they have missed a period until they have been a few months without one. Other people experience other symptoms with the lack of menstruation. Some of those symptoms include:
Amenorrhea Diagnosis
Diagnosis amenorrhea is easy and is usually based on the patient’s explanation of the lack of a period. Diagnosing the cause can be more difficult. Doctors use a variety of different tests and exams to help them determine the exact cause of the amenorrhea. Some of these test and exams include:
- Thyroid function test
- Pregnancy test
- Male hormone test
- Ovary function test
- Prolactin test
- Hormone test
- CT scan
- Blood test
- Scope test
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- X-ray
Amenorrhea Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your amenorrhea. Some patients respond well to one treatment, and others need a combination of treatments to see improvement. Depending on the cause of the amenorrhea, doctors may simply try to restart the menstrual cycle. If there is a health problem causing the issue, doctors will need to treat the cause with medication or surgery. Some common treatments include:
- Contraceptive pill
- Hormone therapy
- Hysterectomy
- Thyroid treatment
- Surgery
Prognosis
In most cases, people who suffer from amenorrhea can live normal lives. If there are no underlying health problems causing the issue and no fertility concerns, women can function just fine without a period. If there is a cause, menstruation usually returns to normal once the cause is diagnosed and treated. Girls who have not started menstruation may be instructed to make lifestyle and diet changes to help the body begin menstruation naturally. Amenorrhea is not a serious problem in itself, but the causes of it can be serious. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for patient recovery and a good prognosis.
