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1. AMENORRHEA
DEFINITION
Amenorrhea is the medical term for the absence of menstrual
periods, either on a permanent or temporary basis. Amenorrhea can
be classified as primary or secondary. In primary amenorrhea,
menstrual periods have never begun (by age 16), whereas
secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstrual
periods for three consecutive cycles or a time period of more than
six months in a woman who was previously menstruating.
Primary amenorrhea
Primary amenorrhea is typically the result of a genetic or anatomic
condition in young females that never develop menstrual periods
(by age 16) and is not pregnant. Many genetic conditions that are
characterized by amenorrhea are conditions in which some or all of
the normal internal female organs either fail to form normally
during fetal development or fail to function properly. Diseases of
the pituitary gland and hypothalamus (a region of the brain
important for the control of hormone production) can also cause
primary amenorrhea since these areas play a critical role in the
regulation of ovarian hormones.
Gonadal dysgenesis is the name of a condition in which the ovaries
are prematurely depleted of follicles and oocytes (egg cells)
leading to premature failure of the ovaries. It is one of the most
common cases of primary amenorrhea in young women.
Another genetic cause is Turner syndrome, in which women are
lacking all or part of one of the two X chromosomes normally
present in the female. In Turner syndrome, the ovaries are replaced
by scar tissue and estrogen production is minimal, resulting in
amenorrhea. Estrogen-induced maturation of the external female

2. genitalia and sex characteristics also fails to occur in Turner
syndrome.
Other conditions that may be causes of primary amenorrhea
include androgen insensitivity (in which individuals have XY
(male) chromosomes but do not develop the external
characteristics of males due to a lack of response to testosterone
and its effects), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Secondary amenorrhea
Pregnancy is an obvious cause of amenorrhea and is the most
common reason for secondary amenorrhea. Further causes are
varied and may include conditions that affect the ovaries, uterus,
hypothalamus, or pituitary gland.
Hypothalamic amenorrhea is defined as amenorrhea that is due to a
disruption in the regulator hormones produced by the
hypothalamus in the brain. These hormones influence the pituitary
gland, which in turn sends signals to the ovaries to produce the
characteristic cyclic hormones. A number of conditions can affect
the hypothalamus and lead to hypothalamic amenorrhea, such as:
• extreme weight loss,
• emotional or physical stress,
• rigorous exercise, and
• severe illness.
Other types of medical conditions can cause secondary
amenorrhea:
• tumors or other diseases of the pituitary gland that lead to
elevated levels of the hormone prolactin (which is involved

3. in milk production) also cause amenorrhea due to the
elevated prolactin levels;
• hypothyroidism;
• elevated levels of androgens (male hormones), either from
outside sources or from disorders that cause the body to
produce too high levels of male hormones;
• ovarian failure (premature ovarian failure or early
menopause);
• polycystic ovary syndrome; and
• Asherman's syndrome is an example of uterine disease that
causes amenorrhea. It results from scarring of the uterine
lining following instrumentation (such as dilation and
curettage) of the uterine cavity to manage postpartum
bleeding or infection.
Post-pill amenorrhea
Women who have stopped taking oral contraceptive pills should
experience the return of menstruation within three months after
discontinuing pill use. Previously, it was believed that birth control
pills increased a woman's risk of amenorrhea following use of the
pill, but this has been proven not to be the case. Women who do
not resume menstruation after three months have passed since oral
contraceptive pills were stopped should be evaluated for causes of
secondary amenorrhea.
Document Source: http://www.mindheal.org
Mindheal Homeopathy is a leading homeopathic treatment center in
Mumbai, India.