Secondary Amenorrhea

In medical terms, no menstrual period is called amenorrhea. When this occurs in a woman who has never had a period it is called primary amenorrhea. In cases where there has been cycles in the past, it is called secondary amenorrhea.

The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea is pregnancy. Sometimes a breast-feeding mother may not have menstrual periods. Periods may also take 3 months or longer to resume after a woman stops taking birth control pills.

Secondary amenorrhea may also result from:

• Polycystic Ovarian Disease. This is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea.
• Anxiety and emotional stress.
• Thyroid problems, such as on underactive or overactive thyroid gland.
• Malnutrition or anorexia.
• Vigorous exercise, such as daily or long-distance running.
• Drugs, such as tranquilizers and antidepressants.
• Rapid weight gain or loss.
• Chronic illness (for example, kidney failure).
• Pituitary tumor - increased production of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland.
• Asherman's syndrome, which is scarring of the lining of the womb resulting from an infection or induced abortion by D&C (dilation and curettage).

Symptoms

Secondary Amenorrhea is a symptom, not a disease. Other symptoms depend on what is causing the amenorrhea. For example, if you have a hormone imbalance, you may feel bloated; have a lot of body and facial hair, acne, breast milk secretions, or weight gain.

Diagnosis

In order to determine which of many causes is responsible; your doctor will start with a history. He will review any other symptoms you have, and relevant medical history. He will examine you including a pelvic exam.?Your doctor may order blood tests to measure your hormone levels, x-rays and ultrasound scans.

Secondary amenorrhea can be a fairly complicated problem, and there is often no quick answer.?It takes time and working closely with your doctor to diagnose the cause and to treat it.

Treatments

The treatment depends on the cause. Returning to normal body weight, removing the offending drugs, or reducing stress, usually solves the problem. Surgery may be necessary if you have tumors or cysts in your ovaries or uterus. You may also need surgery if your vagina is shaped abnormally or has no opening.