Amenorrhea

1. AMENORRHEA

2. DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION
• Primary amenorrhea : not having the menarche at the age of 16 with secondary
sexual characteristics or without secondary sexual characteristics after the age of
14
• Secondary amenorrhea : abnormal (not physiological ) cessation of menstruation
for more than 6 months

3. CLASSIFICATION
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism : FSH , LH , estrogen all LOW
• hypergonadotropic hypogonadism : LH , FSH high , low estrogen
• Euogonadotropic : normal sex hormones levels

4. HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM
• Usually central cause that interrupt the ovarian stimulation from pituitary or hypothalamic signals
• Examples :
functional amenorrhea (anorexia nervosa , weight loss , excessive exercise ) can be both primary and secondary
congenital (Kalman's syndrome )…. Primary amenorrhea
brain tumors , infection , trauma , irradiation….. Can be both primary and secondary
Sheehan syndrome (secondary amenorrhea )
Chronic illness and endocrine disorders as hyperthyroidism and hyperprolactinemia

5. HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM
Kalman's syndrome
1)Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
2)Eunuchoidal features
3)Anosmia or hyposmia
4)Primary amenorrhea
• Caused by defect in synthesis and/or release of gonadorelin (LH
releasing hormone)

6. HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM
Sheehan syndrome
• Causes secondary amenorrhea
• Pituitary infarction necrosis due to sever PPH
• Failure to lactate
• Loss of pubic and axillary hair
• Decreased : LH , FSH , GH , TSH

7. HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM
Hyperprolactinemia
Causes secondary amenorrhea
• Prolactin inhibits GnRH release from the hypothalamus
• Most commonly due to pituitary adenoma
• Drugs that may cause hyperprolactinemia:
1) Phenothiazines
2) Methyldopa
3) Cimetidine
4) Butyrophenones
5) Antihistamines

8. HYPERGONADOTROPIC AMENORRHEA
• The cause if usually ovarian
• Commonly Lead to primary amenorrhea
• FSH , LH are high with low estrogen
Examples :
• gonadal dysgenesis (pure gonadal dysgenesis XY and turner syndrome XO )
• Gonadal agenesis
• Sawyer syndrome
• Premature ovarian failure (menopause before the age of 40 )

9. HYPERGONADOTROPIC AMENORRHEA
Turner syndrome
The most common cause of primary amenorrhea (gonadal dysgenesis )
• Chromosomal abnormalities ( 45XO female)
• Associated with streak ovarian tissue and primary amenorrhea.
• Presentation: primary amenorrhea associated with features of
Turner’s syndrome – short stature, webbed neck, increased carrying
angle at the elbow and sexual infantilism

10. Premature ovarian failure :
• Premature ovarian failure occurs in about 1% before the age of 40
• Premature ovarian failure may be due to:
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Autoimmune disease following viral infection
galactosemia
Oophorectomy
Genetic

11. EUOGONADOTROPIC AMENORRHEA
• Levels of FSH , LH and estrogen are within normal
• Chronic anovulation and anatomical disorders
• Most common cause of secondary amenorrhea : chronic anovulation –PCOS
(after pregnancy excluded )
• Anatomical disorders as : imperforate hymen , transverse vaginal septum , MRKH
syndrome , absent vagina , absent cervix , cervical stenosis and asherman
syndrome , hysterectomy , endometrial ablation

12. EUOGONADOTROPIC AMENORRHEA
Asherman syndrome :
Intrauterine synechia (adhesions due to infections as endometritis , chorioamnionitis ,
excessive curettage
Diagnosed by history of primary amenorrhea with the above risk factors and
HYSTEROSCOPY
HSG and failure of sounding may suggest the diagnsosis
Treated by hysteroscopic hemolysis

14. MULLERIAN AGENESIS
Uterine agenesis –dysgenesis
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome
Normal female karyotype (xx) and phenotype (normal breast and normal pubic hair )
Normal hormone levels
Absent or rudimentary uterus
Absent or short vagina (vaginal dimple )
Diagnosed by MRI and laparoscopy
Treated by vaginal dilatation or vaginal construction surgery

15. OTHER AMENORRHEA'S
Physiological amenorrhea
As occur during pregnancy , menopause , before puberty and during lactation

16. AMENORRHEA WITH HIGH ANDROGEN LEVEL
• Androgen secreting ovarian or adrenal tumors
(Sertoli Leydig cell ovarian tumor and congenital adrenal hyperplasia )
• Androgen insensitivity syndrome

17. ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY SYNDROME
• Was called testicular feminization or XY female (obsolete terms )
• A syndrome found in patient with X, Y chromosome but resistant to androgens (androgen
insensitivity.
• Has male karyotype (45XY) with female appearance (phenotype)
• Normal estrogen level (peripheral conversion )
• Androgen level of male
Presentation:
• Female appearance with normal breast development and external genitalia.
• Primary amenorrhea , absent uterus Gonad – testes
• Removal of tastes usually after puberty due to risk of testicular cancer
• Raised as female

18. EVALUATION OF AMENORRHEA
• Primary ?
• Secondary ?
• Causes ?