CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF AMENORRHEA
Amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstrual periods; it
may be either primary (meaning a woman never developed menstrual periods) or
secondary (absence of menstrual periods in a woman who was previously
menstruating). However, our focus is on secondary amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is a symptom and not a disease in itself, so
amenorrhea can be prevented only to the extent that the underlying cause can be
prevented.
CAUSES OF AMENORRHEA
- A variety of factors can contribute to this condition, including:
- Birth control use
- Certain medications
- Stress: Your body may respond to extreme stress by temporarily derailing your normal menstrual cycle.
- A change in body weight; Women who are very overweight or who have less than 15 percent body fat may stop getting periods.
The primary symptom of this condition is missing several
menstrual periods in a row. Women may also experience:
- Acne
- Vaginal dryness
- Deepening of the voice
- Excessive, unwanted body hair growth (called hirsutism)
- Headaches
- Changes in vision
- Breast discharge
Call your doctor if you have missed more than three
consecutive periods, or if any of your symptoms become severe.
