What causes primary and secondary amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstrual periods; it may be either primary (meaning a woman never developed menstrual periods) or secondary (absence of menstrual periods in a woman who was previously menstruating). Genetic or inborn conditions are the most common causes of primary amenorrhea.
Is Primary amenorrhea common?
The incidence of primary amenorrhea is less than 1% in the United States.
When does primary amenorrhea occur?
Primary amenorrhea is defined as a failure to establish spontaneous periodic menstruation by the age of 15 or within 5 years of breast development if breast development occurs before the age of 10 [15].
What causes amenorrhea after menarche?
Menarche and sustained menstrual cycles requires normal function of the endocrine axis comprising the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries (see the image below). Any disruption in this axis may result in amenorrhea.
Why do Androgens cause amenorrhea?
Hormonal dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, including elevated androgens and estrogens, hypersecretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), and reduced follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) synthesis, leads to menstrual irregularities and amenorrhea in women with PCOS.
Can you get pregnant with primary amenorrhea?
Primary amenorrhea with breast development; uterus absent They can neither produce eggs due to absence of the ovaries, nor carry the pregnancy because of an absent uterus.
How do you fix primary amenorrhea?
In some cases, birth control pills or other hormone therapies can restart your menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea caused by thyroid or pituitary disorders may be treated with medications. If a tumor or structural blockage is causing the problem, surgery may be necessary.
What is primary amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea (uh-men-o-REE-uh) is the absence of menstruation, often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods. Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has not had a period by age 15.
Can PCOS cause primary amenorrhea?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of amenorrhea in women with evidence of androgen excess. Although, PCOS most often occurs concurrently with onset of menses, it can also cause primary amenorrhea.
Is Primary amenorrhea genetic?
Primary amenorrhea (failure of menses to occur by age 16) can result from two main causes: Chromosomal or genetic abnormalities can cause the ovaries to stop functioning normally.
Is PCOS primary or secondary amenorrhea?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) usually presents as secondary amenorrhea, but in some cases may present as primary amenorrhea.
Is Primary amenorrhea permanent?
Primary amenorrhea caused by late puberty usually does not need to be treated. The condition will go away on its own. For primary amenorrhea caused by genetic abnormalities, treatment depends on the problem. For example, if the ovaries are not functioning properly, you may be given supplemental ovarian hormones.
What are the most common causes of amenorrhea?
The most common causes of amenorrhea include pregnancy, breastfeeding, contraception, menopause, sudden weight loss, hormonal imbalance, and structural concerns. After puberty and before menopause, menstruation should be a regular occurrence for women without any underlying health conditions.
Which chronic diseases can cause amenorrhea?
Primary ovarian insufficiency,when you experience menopause before age 40.
Is there a cure for secondary amenorrhea?
Most underlying causes of secondary amenorrhea can be cured. If your secondary amenorrhea is caused by a hormonal imbalance, a tumor on your pituitary gland, weight, or stress, a treatment may be available to address the condition and restart your menstrual cycle. Secondary amenorrhea caused by untreatable conditions cannot be cured.
How to recover from hypothalamic amenorrhea?
Helps you to understand why you have hypothalamic amenorrhea