Amenorrhea – Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Description

Amenorrhea is the disappearance of menses in women who are at the reproductive stage. But it is common in prepubertal, postmenopausal, and pregnant woman. It also ceases in the women when they are breastfeeding. Around the age of 50, mensuration stops permanently. However, it is a health problem rather than the disease.

Types of amenorrhoea

There are two types: Primary and Secondary amenorrhea.

Primary amenorrhea

Mensuration that does not occur at the puberty stage is referred as primary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea can be diagnosed if a patient has normal secondary sexual characteristics, but no menarche by 16 years of age. If a patient has no secondary sexual characteristics and no menarche, primary amenorrhea can be diagnosed as early as 14 years of age.

Secondary amenorrhea

The cessation of menses for 3 months at any time after the menarche has occurred is referred to as secondary amenorrhea. This is normal during pregnancy, lactation, and menopausal age. Sometimes secondary amenorrhea may also occur for 6 months in women who already have normal periods. Secondary amenorrhea is the more common than the primary amenorrhea. Amenorrhea that occurs more than 9 months is called as oligomenorrhea.

Pathophysiology of amenorrhea

In general, the hypothalamus produces a series of a regulating hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). It stimulates the pituitary gland to release gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone into the bloodstream. Under the stimulation of gonadotropins, ovaries produce androgens, estrogens, and progesterone and these perform different functions in the reproductive system as follows.

• FSH: It stimulates the tissues of the reproductive organ which are particularly around the developing oocytes.
• Oestrogen induces the endometrial lining and causes proliferation.
• Leutinising hormone releases during the menstrual cycle to promote the maturation and release of the oocytes. Then to form the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone.
• It changes the lining of the endometrium into a secretory structure and strengthens it for the implantation of the egg.
• If the pregnancy does not take place, then the production of estrogen and progesterone decreases and thus the endometrium disrupted and shed during menses.

Epidemiology

• No evidence indicates that the prevalence of amenorrhea varies according to national origin or ethnic group. However, local environmental factors related to nutrition and the prevalence of chronic disease undoubtedly have an effect.
• For instance, the age of the first menses varies by geographic location, as demonstrated by a World Health Organization study comparing 11 countries, which reported a median age of menarche of 13-16 years across centers.

Causes of amenorrhea

• Natural causes: It can occur during pregnancy, lactation, and menopause stage of women.
• Chromosomal or genetic abnormalities affect the function of ovaries and menstrual cycle. is Example: Turner syndrome
• Problems with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland: It is an organ that regulates the releasing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the hormone that starts the menstrual cycle. Pituitary tumors can also be a cause of amenorrhea.

• Physical problems: Lack of reproductive organs and blockage of passages in the reproductive organs.
• Gynecological conditions: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI),
• Thyroid problems: Problem in the regulation of hormones by the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism cause irregularities in the menstrual cycle.
• A family history of amenorrhea or early menopause
• Some birth controls, such as pills, injections, or intrauterine devices. These can affect your menstrual cycle during and after use.
• Medications: Antipsychotics, cancer chemotherapy, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs allergy medications.

Risk factors

• Athletic training
• Family history
• Eating disorders
• Women undertake high-volume/high-intensity exercise programs
• Low fat, low carbohydrate diets
• Use of anabolic steroids by female athletes is often responsible for a range of menstrual irregularities

Symptoms

The symptom of amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual cycle. You might experience symptoms other than the absence of menstrual cycle such as follows:

• Milky discharge from breast who is not the pregnant (Galactorrhea) and changes in breast size
• Reduced peripheral vision
• Weight gain or weight loss may happen
• Women may have psychological abnormalities with excessive anxiety
• Vaginal dryness and pelvic pain
• Increased hair growth in male pattern due to the androgen production
• Acne and facial hair growth
• Hair loss

Complications of amenorrhea

Some of the complications may arise such as:

• Infertility ( ovulation doesn’t take place so you will not get pregnant)
• Reduction in bone density cause weakness of bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)

Diagnosis and test

First, your doctor may do the physical examination by examining the breast and genital area to see the normal changes in puberty.

Some of the following tests are carried out to determine the cause amenorrhea

• Ultrasonography can be performed in pelvis area to determine the abnormalities in the genital tract or to check for polycystic ovary
• MRI or CT scan of the head can be performed, to find out the pituitary and hypothalamic causes of amenorrhea
• To determine the level of hormones secreted by the pituitary gland (FSH, LH, TSH, and prolactin) and the ovaries

The above tests are not  indecisive to determine amenorrhea, the additional tests can be carried out such as:

• Determination of prolactin level
• Thyroid function tests
• Uterus examination can be carried out by doing X-ray for hysterosalpingogram and saline infusion sonography

Treatment and medications

The treatment depends on the cause of the amenorrhea as well as the health status of the person. The primary amenorrhea is the late puberty so it doesn’t manage or treated. This condition will go off later. Some of the causes can be managed by drug therapies such as follows:

• Dopamine agonist such as bromocriptine (Parlodel) or pergolide (Permax) is effective for treating hyperprolactinemia. It restores the normal endocrine function and ovulation
• Metformin (Glucophage) to induce ovulation in women’s with polycystic ovary syndrome
• In some cases, oral contraceptives may be prescribed to restore the menstrual cycle and to provide estrogen replacement to women with amenorrhea who do not wish to become pregnant. Before administering oral contraceptives, withdrawal bleeding is induced with an injection of progesterone or oral administration of 5-10 mg of medroxyprogesterone (Provera) for 10 days
• Hormone replacement therapy can be used for the women who have low level of estrogen and progesterone

Some of the surgery options are preferred by the physician when in extreme cases such as

• Surgery may require for some pituitary and hypothalamic tumor in some cases by radiotherapy
• Women with intrauterine adhesions require dissolution of the scar tissue.
• Surgical procedures required for other genital tract abnormalities depend on the specific clinical situation.

Prevention of amenorrhea

A woman can prevent the amenorrhea by following programs

• Sensible exercise programs
• Maintaining body weight
• Proper diet maintenance

The conditions when amenorrhea occurs due to genetic or during inborn cannot be prevented.