{"id":73252,"date":"2023-05-26T10:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T08:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=73252"},"modified":"2024-03-28T11:51:17","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T09:51:17","slug":"amenorrhea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/amenorrhea\/","title":{"rendered":"Amenorrhea: symptoms and causes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Amenorrhea<\/strong> is a lack of menstruation \u2013 simply, you don\u2019t get periods. There are two types. Primary amenorrhea<\/strong> is diagnosed if you have not started your periods by the age of 16. Secondary amenorrhea <\/strong>is when a woman previously had periods in a normal way, but these have stopped for six months or more. In the case of primary amenorrhea<\/strong>, it can often be attributed to differences in development speed. A delayed appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, as well as the beginning of menstruation, can frequently run in families and provided periods start by the age of 16, there is no cause for concern. Delayed development aside, there is little difference between the two types. Secondary amenorrhea, defined by a prolonged period absence<\/strong>, is more common than primary amenorrhea<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In this article, we focus on the causes of amenorrhea<\/strong> and its symptoms, which can be many and varied, and the different types of treatment that may be recommended.<\/p>\n Apart from the most obvious symptom, the absence of periods, other symptoms can appear depending on whether the cause is hormonal, lifestyle-related or a result of medication. Possible symptoms include a milky discharge from the nipples<\/strong>, hair loss<\/strong> or excess facial hair<\/strong>, pain in the pelvis<\/strong>, headache<\/strong> or changes in your vision<\/strong>.<\/p>\n There are certain times when it is perfectly normal and natural not to have periods. These include when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, during childhood before puberty, and after natural menopause. Other than these non-problematic causes, there is a whole variety of reasons why the onset of periods can be delayed, or if they have started, they then stop. The possible reasons fall into three main categories<\/strong>, though in individual cases, these could overlap. These are lifestyle factors<\/strong>, hormonal problems<\/strong> and certain medications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A hormonal imbalance is often at the root of any period irregularities. These could be caused by:<\/p>\n Several drugs can cause a hormonal imbalance which shows itself in amenorrhea<\/strong>. These include antipsychotics, medication for high blood pressure, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, antidepressants and allergy medicines.<\/p>\n Primary amenorrhea<\/strong> and secondary amenorrhea <\/strong>can sometimes have structural causes, such as anatomical problems inside the reproductive organs that prevent menstrual blood flow. Amenorrhea<\/strong> is commonly seen in conditions such as Asherman’s syndrome<\/strong>, where intrauterine adhesions form inside the uterus and cervix.<\/p>\n Treatment would depend on the condition’s underlying cause, so the first step is to consult your GP. You may be referred to a counselling service or dietitian if the problem arises from stress or being over or underweight, or you could be referred to a gynaecologist or endocrinologist if the problem is more related to a hormonal imbalance or physical factors. You will probably need a complete gynaecological examination, and you could also be referred for an ultrasound scan and blood tests.<\/p>\n Medications may be prescribed if, following tests, irregularities in the pituitary or thyroid glands are causing your periods to stop. If another underlying condition, such as PCOS, is causing the lack of periods, you could be prescribed either the contraceptive pill or medication containing progesterone. These therapies can bring the menstrual cycle back to normal. If the cause is early menopause, hormone replacement therapy may be recommended.<\/p>\n The main impact of amenorrhea<\/strong> is that it causes infertility<\/a>. Since the menstrual cycle is centred on ovulation\u2009\u2013 \u2009the release of an egg that can potentially be fertilised\u2009\u2013\u2009if periods cease, you are not ovulating<\/strong>. If you have concerns about your fertility due to amenorrhea<\/strong> or even a disrupted or irregular menstrual cycle<\/strong>, discussing the issue with a fertility specialist can be very helpful for your peace of mind. You need to know whether your condition is treatable and your options.<\/p>\n If you want to know more about our treatments and services, you can visit our website<\/a>. If you would like to get in touch, it\u2019s as simple as completing our online contact form<\/a>, or you can call us on 0800 52 00 161<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Amenorrhea is a lack of menstruation \u2013 in simple terms, you don\u2019t get periods. There are two types. Primary amenorrhea is when a teenager has not started her periods by the age of 16; secondary amenorrhea is when a woman has previously had periods in the normal way, but these have stopped for six months or more.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":105621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[288,289],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSymptoms of amenorrhea<\/h2>\n
Causes of amenorrhea<\/h2>\n
Hormonal causes<\/h3>\n
\n
Medication<\/h3>\n
Structural problems<\/h3>\n
Lifestyle<\/h3>\n
\n
Treatment for amenorrhea<\/h2>\n
Finding out how IVI can help<\/h2>\n