Reasons for the absence of menstruation and the main types of amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for a long time (from 3 months). This condition is a symptom of serious abnormalities in the reproductive or endocrine system. In some cases, amenorrhea is a sign of anatomical defects of the genitourinary organs.

Menstruation also stops for natural reasons (during pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause). Serious menstrual irregularities not related to pregnancy require diagnosis and treatment.

Types and causes of amenorrhea

Depending on the causes, there are several forms of amenorrhea. They differ in the time of appearance and diagnostic methods.

Primary amenorrhea

It is diagnosed if menarche (first menstruation) is absent before the age of 15-16 years.

Most often, primary amenorrhea is caused by:

• complete absence of reproductive organs (cervix, uterus, vagina). Due to abnormalities in intrauterine development, the body’s reproductive system is formed with disturbances or does not develop at all;
• vaginal abnormalities. In this case, the reproductive system as a whole develops normally, but the removal of menstrual blood outside is impossible due to the septum in the vagina;
• stress conditions, hormonal disorders, excessive physical activity. These reasons influence the development of both primary and secondary amenorrhea.

Secondary amenorrhea

The cessation of menstruation in women with a previously established monthly cycle can be due to both natural causes and the use of certain medications or gynecological diseases.

Causes of secondary amenorrhea:

• early (35-40 years) cessation of ovarian function;
• intrauterine adhesions (Asherman's syndrome). As a result of surgical manipulations (abdominal gynecological operations, diagnostic curettage, cesarean section), the inner lining of the uterus loses the ability to renew itself normally. Scar tissue interferes with the cyclic formation and rejection of the endometrium, which leads to the cessation of menstruation;
• pathologies of the endocrine glands (especially the thyroid gland);
• reduced body weight (10% less than the physiological norm). In this case, the release of gonadotorpin-Riesling hormone by the hypothalamus, which regulates the normal menstrual cycle, slows down or stops. Most often, hypothalamic amenorrhea is caused by abnormal eating behavior (bulimia or anorexia);
• polycystic ovary syndrome.

Some external causes can also trigger amenorrhea.

1. Systematic physical training, especially for athletes and ballerinas. Most often they are accompanied by a poor diet and constant lack of sleep. The body cannot function normally in extreme conditions, and the reproductive system is primarily disrupted.
2. Strong emotions, nervous overload. Stress affects the production of hormones that affect the monthly cycle, so to restore regular menstruation, it is necessary to eliminate traumatic factors.
3. Taking some medications causes amenorrhea. Oral contraceptives, antipsychotics, and antitumor medications should be used with caution.

Diagnosis and associated symptoms

Irregular menstruation or complete absence of menstruation is a symptom of gynecological or hormonal disorders. To diagnose the causes of amenorrhea, the following studies are carried out:

• standard examination by a doctor: vaginal examination, collection of information about past gynecological procedures, hereditary predisposition to diseases, diet;
• measuring the level of basic hormones (prolactin, testosterone, thyroid hormones);
• Ultrasound of the reproductive system. To obtain more accurate results, an MRI is performed;
• if hypothalamic amenorrhea is suspected, an MRI of the pituitary gland is performed;
• For a detailed examination of the endometrium of the uterus, hysteroscopy is prescribed - an examination using a special camera, which is inserted through the vagina and cervix.

Some women are particularly prone to amenorrhea. The risk group includes professional athletes, women with eating disorders and those whose close relatives suffered from cycle disorders.

In some cases, the cessation of menstruation is accompanied by unpleasant accompanying symptoms:

• acne on the skin;
• hair loss or, conversely, the appearance of unwanted hair on the body;
• nipple discharge;
• pain in the lower abdomen.

These unpleasant phenomena disappear simultaneously with the stabilization of the monthly cycle. But spontaneous restoration of menstruation is impossible.

For successful treatment, you must contact a gynecologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist. Following your doctor's orders will help you avoid complications.

The most dangerous among them are osteoporosis and decreased reproductive function, including infertility.

Source: https://VashOrganism.ru/amenoreya/

Reasons for lack of menstruation

Lack of menstruation is often the first sign of pregnancy. The second completely natural reason for this condition is breastfeeding.

But often such a symptom can be caused by other factors, of which there are quite a few.

If we are not talking about pregnancy or breastfeeding, menstrual irregularities, prolonged or complete absence of menstruation indicate pathological processes occurring in the female body that need to be identified and eliminated.

In medicine, the absence of menstruation is called “ amenorrhea ”. It comes in two main types:

• Primary amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation in girls who have reached puberty. To be more precise, in this case menstruation did not stop, it never began;
• secondary amenorrhea will be discussed if menstruation is absent for more than six months. Unlike the primary form of this disorder, menstruation did occur at least once, but very often the pathology is observed in women whose menstrual cycle was previously completely normal and regular.

Amenorrhea can be ovulatory or anovulatory. This takes into account the connection between the presence or absence of ovulation, that is, the release of a mature egg from the follicle.

The main reasons for the absence of menstruation

If you miss your period and are not breastfeeding, the first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. If the test is negative, you should consult a doctor, since a delay or complete absence of menstruation is often associated with quite serious problems:

• Hormonal imbalance : Since the menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones, hormonal dysfunction is the most common cause of absence of periods. It can be triggered by a variety of factors, for example, nutritional disorders, stress, diseases of the endocrine system, etc.
• Early menopause : With this disorder, menstruation may stop altogether, even if you have not yet reached the typical age for menopause - forty-five years. As a rule, amenorrhea in this case is accompanied by all the symptoms characteristic of menopause: hot flashes, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, etc.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome : with this pathology, the ovaries significantly increase in size, and at the same time the hormonal levels change, reproductive function is disrupted and amenorrhea occurs.
• Anomalies in the development of the organs of the reproductive system - in most cases we will be talking about congenital pathologies, for example, underdevelopment of the ovaries. In this case, amenorrhea is primary. Also, peculiar septa may form in the vagina, and amenorrhea will be called false. Its essence is that during a normal menstrual cycle, blood does not come out.
• Endocrine diseases - hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism often cause the absence of menstruation in women; In addition, amenorrhea can be caused by tumors in the adrenal glands and obesity.
• An ectopic pregnancy is a pathological condition in which a fertilized egg attaches not to the wall of the uterus, but, for example, to the fallopian tube. It is characterized by the fact that the same signs are present as during a normal pregnancy: a positive test result, absence of menstruation.
• Infectious diseases of the genitourinary system, including sexually transmitted diseases.
• Brain diseases - tumor diseases, injuries and other lesions of the brain and pituitary gland, as well as endocrine diseases, contribute to disruption of the regulatory cycle and can provoke amenorrhea.
• Hydatidiform mole : this pathology is characterized by the formation of a tumor formation based on an egg that was previously fertilized, or on the placenta. In this case, the woman has all the signs of pregnancy, including the absence of menstruation and a positive test result. This pathology is rare and always requires urgent medical treatment.
• Anorexia is a progressive loss of body weight due to exhausting diets or excessive physical activity. As a rule, women suffering from anorexia experience mental disorders expressed in an obsessive desire to lose weight. In the absence of adequate nutrition, hormonal regulation is disrupted, weight decreases sharply, menstruation disappears, and other complications arise.

You may experience a lack of menstruation after surgical interventions in the pelvic organs, as well as an abortion.

It is not uncommon for the menstrual cycle to be disrupted when taking hormonal medications or certain other types of medications.

In addition, you may have a physiological delay in menstruation, which is often associated with a certain stage in a woman's life. As is the case with pregnancy and lactation, this condition is natural.

Possible complications

If we consider the absence of menstruation in general, then this pathology is not life-threatening. However, you should be aware that women with secondary amenorrhea are much more likely to be diagnosed with infertility or anovulation.

If you have not had your period for a long time, do not ignore this symptom, as over time it can lead to undesirable consequences:

• miscarriages in early pregnancy;
• the development of hyperplastic processes of the endometrium, which creates a threat of uterine cancer;
• diabetes mellitus;
• osteoporosis;
• reproductive system disorders;
• cardiovascular pathologies.

To find out the exact reason for the absence of menstruation, contact our clinic, where they will help you deal with the problem and give competent advice on this issue.

Diagnostics in our clinic

When you contact our doctor with the problem of lack of menstruation, the specialist will first of all conduct an initial examination to rule out pregnancy.

During the conversation, the doctor will find out whether there are conditions in your life that could provoke the appearance of secondary amenorrhea: adherence to strict diets, taking medications and hormonal drugs, diseases of the body, early menopause in the mother, etc.

The main examination will be aimed at determining the function of the ovaries. To do this, in our clinic you will have a blood test for hormones and an ultrasound scan. A number of laboratory tests are also necessary: ​​vaginal smear, cytological analysis, tests for infections. As a rule, eliminating the main cause of the absence of menstruation is enough for the cycle to return to normal.  

Additional Information

Microflora of female genital organs

In this article we will talk about women's problems in reproductive age (18-45 years), because During adolescence and perimenopause, specific features appear that must be taken into account in treatment.

Treatment of infertility in men

It is easiest to diagnose a man. After 2-3 days of abstinence, sperm is donated for testing and an hour later the analysis is ready and reproductive function is examined.

Treatment of infertility in women

In the family, the woman is the first to “sound the alarm”. And often without her husband she comes to see a fertility specialist. With the availability of the World Wide Web, forums and websites, people come to the appointment with tests and self-made diagnoses.

Spermogram parameters

Table of normal spermogram indicators

Future dad

Before planning to conceive, you need to think about a healthy lifestyle.

Contraception

At the New Life clinic, you can get advice from highly qualified gynecologists and endocrinologists on the most suitable method of contraception for you.

Source: https://reprod.ru/my-lechim/ginekologiya/informatsiya/prichiny-otsutstviya-menstruatsii/

Treatment of amenorrhea, signs and causes of absence of menstruation

In DaliMed clinics, after a gynecological examination, general laboratory tests are carried out. The type of amenorrhea is identified and the presence or absence of pregnancy is diagnosed. To make an accurate diagnosis, the content of sex hormones is determined. To determine damage to the reproductive system, an ultrasound or CT scan is performed.

Types of amenorrhea

There are different types of amenorrhea, depending on physical or psychological factors:

• primary
• secondary
• physiological
• pathological
• true
• false
• uterine

All of them have both common and unique symptoms inherent only to one type.

Symptoms of amenorrhea

The main symptom of amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Each type of amenorrhea is characterized by symptoms that are unique to it.

For example, false amenorrhea is characterized by swelling of the mammary glands and pain in the lower abdomen.

Secondary amenorrhea, associated with endocrine disorders, manifests itself in the form of “menopausal symptoms” at a young age, as well as excess body hair.

Causes of amenorrhea

Amenorrhea develops against the background of various problems, congenital or acquired. Such as:

• pathology of ovarian development in embryogenesis
• problems of the genitourinary system
• chronic ovarian diseases
• disruption of the endocrine glands
• obesity
• early menopause
• tuberculosis and other endogenous intoxications
• mental disorders
• head injuries
• emotional instability

Depending on the factors provoking the disease, treatment is prescribed.

Treatment of amenorrhea

There are many methods for treating such disorders. But, unfortunately, they do not always give the expected result.

The DaliMed clinics have developed a whole range of methods to facilitate the most effective treatment of amenorrhea: Diagnostics First of all, the doctor prescribes an examination to identify the causes and type of the disease

HRT - Hormone replacement therapy Amenorrhea is the most serious disorder of the menstrual cycle, therefore it requires hormone replacement therapy, since their glands refuse to work. Properly selected HRT helps normalize your endocrine system and does not cause side effects.

Hirudotherapy Leech enzymes act on the body in the most positive way, stimulating the functioning of internal organs and the patient’s own immune system

Homeosiniatry A unique method of using homeopathic remedies based on the knowledge of Chinese medicine. Affects the body as a whole, helping to fight the underlying cause of the disease

Physiotherapy Stimulates the functioning of organs and glands. Relieves pain and activates the body's protective properties. Most effective in combination with basic treatment methods.

• Magnetic laser therapy
• Laser therapy

Mud therapy A method borrowed from specialized sanatoriums. Gives remarkable results in stimulating the functioning of the pelvic organs and immunity, suppresses pathogenic flora and relieves inflammatory processes

Ozone therapy With this method, a solution enriched with ozone is used both locally and intravenously. Triggers the body's natural defense functions, saturating tissues with oxygen and nutrients

Plasmolifting To start the natural processes of the body, the patient's plasma enriched with platelets is used. Starts the body's recovery process and stimulates the immune system.

The patient's recovery is accelerated with a proper lifestyle and balanced diet. In severe stressful situations, it is recommended to visit a psychotherapist.

Be attentive to your health - make an appointment!

Source: https://www.dali-med.ru/ginekologiya/narusheniya-menstrualnogo-tsikla/amenoreya/

Delay and absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)

A delay in menstruation of 6 months or more, as well as a complete absence of menstruation, is called amenorrhea.

If a girl does not start menstruating before the age of 14-16, they speak of primary amenorrhea. If you had menstruation before, but then there was a delay of more than six months, this is secondary amenorrhea.

In many cases, amenorrhea is not a cause for concern. Due to individual characteristics, some healthy girls begin menstruation later than normal.

Secondary amenorrhea may also be associated with natural causes of delayed menstruation. For example, periods stop during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as well as after menopause. Some types of birth control may also cause your periods to temporarily stop.

However, more often the absence or delay of menstruation is associated with various diseases:

• polycystic ovary syndrome - a disease in which ovulation does not occur;
• hypothalamic amenorrhea - when the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that regulates the menstrual cycle - stops working normally (this is thought to be caused by excessive physical activity, severe weight loss and stress);
• hyperprolactinemia - increased levels of the hormone prolactin in the blood;
• ovarian wasting syndrome - when the ovaries stop working normally in women who have not yet reached the age of natural menopause - up to 50 years.

Read more about the reasons for missing periods.

Menstruation (menstruation) is part of the menstrual cycle. They usually begin in girls aged 10-13 years.

Approximately every 28 days, the ovaries release a mature egg. This is called ovulation.

The lining of the uterus thickens, preparing to receive a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not occur, this overgrown membrane is torn off and released along with bloody discharge from the vagina, which is called menstrual bleeding - menstruation.

Who is susceptible to the disease

Secondary amenorrhea is quite common. According to some estimates, 1 in 25 women will experience this in their lifetime. Menstruation may disappear due to professional activities, for example, in athletes or dancers during heavy training.

Primary amenorrhea is less common, affecting approximately 1 in 300 girls and women.

Treatment of amenorrhea

• Treatment for amenorrhea will depend on its causes.
• In some cases, the doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach: delay drug treatment and see if the cycle returns on its own.
• For example, with hypothalamic amenorrhea, regular periods are often restored naturally as soon as the woman reduces physical activity and restores normal body weight.
• A number of disorders require hormonal therapy, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Sometimes treatment for amenorrhea is not effective, for example, if menstruation has disappeared due to premature ovarian depletion.
• Read more about treating amenorrhea.

When to see a doctor

If you are concerned about a delay or absence of menstruation, visit a gynecologist to find out the cause of the cycle disorder. You can contact an antenatal clinic, a local clinic, a private medical center, or use our service to find a good gynecologist without leaving home.

If necessary, the gynecologist will refer you to a consultation with an endocrinologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist for a more detailed examination and treatment. Follow the links to find doctors in these specialties in your city.

Read more about diagnosing amenorrhea.

Therefore, it is very important to find out the causes of cycle disruption and understand their origin.

Absence of menstruation for natural reasons

There are three main natural reasons for missing periods. These are pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.

Most often, a delay in menstruation is the result of an unexpected pregnancy, which a woman may not even be aware of. This often happens in cases where the usual method of contraception fails. After pregnancy, childbirth and cessation of breastfeeding, menstruation usually returns on its own.

Menopause is the natural decline of ovarian function in women over 50 years of age. During menopause, periods become less frequent and then disappear completely.

Delayed puberty

Delayed sexual development is considered to be the absence of secondary sexual characteristics in girls 13-14 years old or their delayed development (2.5 years or more compared to the norm). Such a disorder is said to occur if a 13-year-old girl does not experience enlargement of the mammary glands and does not have periods by the age of 14-16.

Delayed puberty may be an individual characteristic of a healthy girl. Especially if this was the case with her mother and older sisters. In this case, treatment is not required and menstruation occurs on its own, but later.

There are also more serious causes of delayed sexual development. For example, underdevelopment of the ovaries, brain diseases, congenital genetic abnormalities.

Contraception

The absence of menstruation may be associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives: the Mirena intrauterine device, injections or, less commonly, oral contraceptives.

After discontinuation of contraceptives, periods should resume, although sometimes this does not happen. If your periods have not returned within six months after stopping the use of contraceptives, contact your gynecologist.

Diseases

Amenorrhea can be caused by various diseases, some of which are described below.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common disease that causes amenorrhea in 1 case out of 3. The following disorders are characteristic of polycystic disease:

• several underdeveloped follicles (sacs that contain eggs) in the ovaries;
• irregular ovulation;
• high levels of male hormones - androgens in the body.

In addition to the absence of periods, symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include increased body hair, infertility and excess weight. Read more about polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea

The menstrual cycle is regulated by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. There, hormones are produced that are necessary for the maturation of the egg and its release from the ovaries - ovulation. In hypothalamic amenorrhea, the hypothalamus stops producing these hormones and the menstrual cycle stops.

It is believed that this condition develops when:

• excessive weight loss (for example, due to an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa);
• heavy physical activity (for example, among athletes during intense training);
• stress;
• severe chronic diseases (for example, heart disease or decompensated diabetes).

1. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is more common in women who, due to their profession, have to do a lot of sports and maintain low body weight, for example, dancers.
2. In addition to amenorrhea, dysfunction of the hypothalamus is accompanied by other symptoms, for example, increased bone fragility, which can cause a fracture even with a slight blow or fall.
3. Therefore, be sure to consult a doctor, even if you think that the temporary absence of menstruation does not bother you.

Hyperprolactinemia

Hyperprolactinemia is an increase in the blood level of a hormone called prolactin. Normally, the concentration of this hormone increases only after the birth of a child, since prolactin stimulates lactation - the production of breast milk.

• The production of large amounts of prolactin disrupts the menstrual cycle and leads to amenorrhea. Hyperprolactinemia affects approximately 1 in 200 women and can be caused by a number of reasons:
• Sometimes hyperprolactinemia becomes a side effect:

• radiation therapy (for example, for tumors);
• antidepressants (used to treat depression);
• calcium channel blockers (prescribed to treat hypertension);
• omeprazole (a medicine to treat stomach ulcers).

Hyperprolactinemia can also occur in women who regularly use heroin.

Ovarian wasting syndrome

Ovarian wasting syndrome is a premature loss of function of the female reproductive glands. With this disease, in women under 45-50 years of age, ovulation stops (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries), and amenorrhea occurs.

It is estimated that ovarian failure affects 1 in 100 women under 40 years of age and 1 in 20 women under 45 years of age.

It is believed that the cause of ovarian failure may be a failure in the immune system, in which the body begins to destroy its own ovaries. Another possible cause is the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Ovarian wasting syndrome increases the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and other problems and requires treatment from a doctor.

Thyroid diseases

The thyroid gland is located in the neck area. It produces hormones that control growth and metabolism in the body. Under the influence of thyroid hormones, the heart rate and body temperature change, and energy is stored and expended.

In addition, the activity of the thyroid gland affects the menstrual cycle. So, the cause of amenorrhea can be:

• hypothyroidism - insufficient production of thyroid hormones;
• hyperthyroidism is excess production of thyroid hormones.

Genetic diseases

In rare cases, the cause of the absence of menstruation is genetic diseases:

• Turner syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that affects approximately 1 in 2,000 girls. From birth, the ovaries are not able to produce the hormones necessary for a normal menstrual cycle.
• Kallmann syndrome is a rare disorder occurring in approximately 1 in 10,000 births. There are no hormones necessary for sexual development.
• Testicular feminization syndrome is a rare condition that occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 births. A child who is genetically male may be born with female primary sex characteristics.

Anatomical defects

Another reason for the absence of menstruation may be a congenital anomaly of the girl’s reproductive system. For example, the absence of a uterus or vagina.

A gynecologist diagnoses amenorrhea and other cycle disorders. This is the specialist you should contact if you have problems with monthly bleeding.

At an appointment with a gynecologist

First of all, your doctor will recommend taking a pregnancy test, as this is the most common reason for missing periods. Unexpected pregnancy often occurs in cases where the usual method of contraception fails.

In addition, to make a diagnosis, the doctor will need information about the health of close relatives, the characteristics of your sex life, probable emotional upheavals in recent times, changes in body weight, etc.

Also, at the first visit, the gynecologist will conduct an external examination of the body to assess the degree of development of secondary sexual characteristics, which is especially important for primary amenorrhea in teenage girls. The doctor then performs a gynecological examination.

Additional examination

To diagnose amenorrhea, various tests and examinations are prescribed:

• blood tests for hormones, for example, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone;
• Ultrasound, computed tomography or MRI - these research methods allow you to study the structural features of the internal genital organs and the pituitary gland (part of the brain);

Where can I find a doctor?

You can use our service to find a good gynecologist in your city. In addition, with complaints about the absence or delay of menstruation, you can contact a gynecologist-endocrinologist. Read more about how these doctors differ.

If you can’t get an appointment with a gynecologist-endocrinologist, don’t worry. An ordinary gynecologist will be able to provide you with completely competent assistance, and if necessary, refer you for a consultation with an endocrinologist and further treatment will take place with the participation of both doctors.

Typically, treatment for amenorrhea is aimed at eliminating the causes of delayed menstruation, which leads to the restoration of a normal cycle.

If tests suggest that amenorrhea is caused by a medical condition, treatment will depend on what it is. Sometimes you can get treatment from your doctor, but some treatments can only be provided by specialists.

Not all cases of amenorrhea can be cured. For example, with testicular feminization syndrome, it is not possible to induce the onset of menstruation.

Below are treatments for some of the most common causes of amenorrhea.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome can be treated in a variety of ways, but hormone therapy is often recommended to restore normal menstrual cycles.

This usually involves taking oral contraceptives or pills containing progesterone. Read more about the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation with hypothalamic amenorrhea is most often associated with severe weight loss, excessive physical activity, stress or chronic illness. This disorder can be cured by eliminating the cause.

If the suspected cause of amenorrhea is low body weight (body mass index below 18.5) or obesity (body mass index 30 or higher), it is recommended to consult a nutritionist for nutritional correction.

If your doctor suspects you have an eating disorder or your periods are missing due to stress, you may need to seek help from a psychotherapist or psychiatrist. By following the links, you can select doctors of these specialties in your city.

For professional athletes, a gentle training regimen under the guidance of a sports physician may be recommended. After reducing physical activity, menstruation usually recovers on its own.

If your symptoms are caused by a chronic condition, treating the condition may help you get your period back. For example, if you have type 1 diabetes, you may need regular insulin shots.

Hyperprolactinemia

Treatment for hyperprolactinemia (excessively high levels of the hormone prolactin) will depend on its cause.

For example, if hyperprolactinemia is caused by a brain tumor, surgery and sometimes radiation or chemotherapy are needed to remove or shrink the tumor. If hyperprolactinemia occurs as a reaction to a drug, you may need to change it.

Ovarian wasting syndrome

1. For ovarian failure (when the ovaries stop producing eggs in women under 45-50 years of age), hormonal therapy is recommended.

2. This may be taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

3. These treatments do not always help restore your cycle, but they reduce the risk of complications from ovarian failure, such as osteoporosis (increased bone fragility).

Thyroid diseases

• If amenorrhea is associated with hyperthyroidism, a set of therapeutic measures is recommended aimed at reducing the function of the thyroid gland and the activity of its hormones.
• If the thyroid gland is not functioning sufficiently, hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine is prescribed, which, when taken continuously, replenishes the lack of natural thyroid hormones and menstruation is restored.
• Read more about treating hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Source: https://lib.napopravku.ru/symptoms/zaderzhka-mesyachnykh/

Reasons for lack of menstruation 3

Everyone knows that the absence of menstruation in a young woman occurs when she is expecting a baby. But this is by no means always the case. For some, they do not come for a long time due to other, not at all joyful, reasons. Their absence for six months or more is called amenorrhea. This condition almost always requires study and treatment.

Read more about the types of ailments

The absence of menstrual function in the female body occurs in different circumstances. In accordance with them, types of amenorrhea are distinguished. Depending on belonging to one of them, accompanying manifestations of malaise arise.

Since the absence of menstruation is not considered a disease, but only a syndrome of an illness, condition or developmental characteristics, the division into types is also based on the listed circumstances. That is, the absence of menstruation happens:

• Physiological or pathological;
• False or true;
• Primary or secondary.

There is a chance to find out what amenorrhea is in women at any age, from adolescence to menopause. If your period is still expected at the time of your 17th birthday, it is most likely time for the girl to see a doctor to find out the reasons for her absence.

Primary

Primary amenorrhea occurs in teenage girls when they approach menarche and do not have periods.

This may be due to both congenital defects from the chromosomal level to the reproductive system, and malfunctions in the hypothalamus due to heavy stress loads.

Due to the difference in the causes of the syndrome, its symptoms are also different. Amenorrhea in adolescents due to a malfunction of the hypothalamus, after some time it will be revealed that the patient is overweight, almost completely lacking pubic and armpit hair, a narrowed vagina, and a reduced uterus. When the cause lies in the ovaries, the girl obviously has general physical underdevelopment.

Secondary

Secondary amenorrhea is different in that the woman had menstruation, but for unknown reasons disappeared for a long time. Sometimes the reasons for this are natural, such as feeding a newborn or menopause.

In other cases, the loss of critical days is caused by diseases of a gynecological, hormonal, or psychological nature.

About the causes of the disease

The causes of amenorrhea are as varied as the range of its types. This:

• Problems of the reproductive system are one of the causes of amenorrhea.
  Chromosomal abnormalities, that is, detected at the gene level, possible due to negative influences during intrauterine development;
• Malfunction of a part of the brain. Improper functioning of the hypothalamus is to blame for disturbances in the regulation of the menstrual process due to a deficiency of the substances required for this - hormones;
• Problems in the functioning of the pituitary gland. Amenorrhea can be caused by a lack of hormones produced by it or their complete absence. This type of syndrome is different in that the woman does not smell. However, it is easier to deal with than other species;
• Defective development of the reproductive system. Among the probable signs are a narrowed vagina, a closed hymen;
• Gynecological diseases, among which the first place is occupied by polycystic ovary syndrome;
• Damage to the uterus as a result of surgery on it;
• Early decline of ovarian function due to heredity.

Stress, sudden weight loss, and heavy physical labor can also provoke amenorrhea.

How can problems with the pituitary gland result?

The pituitary gland is of decisive importance for the functioning of the reproductive system and its renewal. It produces substances on which the functioning of the ovaries, and therefore menstruation and its characteristics, directly depend.

A failure in its operation can provoke the failure of critical days for various reasons:

• Hypergonadotropic amenorrhea is diagnosed when the ovaries produce less of the necessary hormones estrogen and progesterone. The pituitary gland, in order to stimulate them, produces an increased volume of FSH and LH. Such an imbalance prevents the development of the egg and the mucous membrane of the uterus;
• Hypogonadotropic amenorrhea is detected with a deficiency of FSH and LH, when the pituitary gland is “lazy” to produce them. Therefore, the ovaries reduce estrogen production. The reproductive cell matures more slowly, and the uterine mucosa hardly thickens in the middle of the cycle.

When the uterus is capricious

False amenorrhea does not mean that the woman is inventing this problem. Its culprit is not the inability of the uterine mucosa to renew itself, but the obstruction of secretions from escaping. This happens with cervical stenosis, from birth or due to illness, the hymen is intact, without an opening, that is, due to a defect in the development of the reproductive organs.

The rejected tissue is stored inside the uterus or vagina, or fallopian tubes. This is fraught with inflammation and makes itself felt by sharp pain in the abdomen.

With the normal functioning of the hormonal system, the absence of menstruation is also not excluded. This is the so-called uterine amenorrhea.

This type of condition under consideration is also detected in the absence of mechanical obstacles to the release of mucus. The endometrium is to blame here because it does not respond to changing hormones.

This type of condition is detected after gynecological diseases or surgical procedures.

Lack of hormones

Hormonal amenorrhea is distinguished as a special type. Actually, almost any of them occurs when there is a failure in this area. But often women themselves make efforts to ensure that their critical days disappear for a long time:

• They starve themselves;
• Do not try to overcome severe stress;
• The reproductive system is tested for strength by physical overload.

All this can disrupt even the ideal functioning of the pituitary gland, ovaries, and thyroid gland. As a result, menstruation does not come because the body is tired, and this can last for a very long time.

Natural reasons for missed periods

The cessation of menstruation for a long time is not always caused by illness or abnormal development of the genital organs. There is a physiological amenorrhea caused by positions in which, on the contrary, rejection of the basal layer of mucosa would be an extreme and undesirable event. These are pregnancy, menopause and breastfeeding.

Among all, it is worth highlighting the last condition of the female body, in which lactational amenorrhea can be observed. The absence of menstruation during the production of breast milk is explained by a different composition of hormones than in non-breastfeeding women. Among others, prolactin predominates, having the property of suppressing the production of FSH and LH. That is, menstruation cannot come due to lack of ovulation.

Amenorrhea and pregnancy also accompany each other. After conception, the corpus luteum produces progesterone, which ensures the safety and development of the embryo. And for this, it needs a thickened and loose mucous membrane, which nourishes its membranes and is the place where the fertilized egg is attached. If its upper layer begins to be rejected, the pregnancy is at risk of premature termination.

When is missing a period beneficial?

Sometimes the disappearance of menstruation for a long time is not a negative manifestation requiring treatment, but a benefit for the woman. With the help of special means, medicinal amenorrhea is prescribed as a possible treatment for gynecological ailments.

It will help when the reproductive system needs rest to restore its functions. The most common reason that causes doctors to prescribe this method is endometriosis.

We recommend reading the article about menstrual irregularities. You will learn about the norm and deviations, the reasons for the delay of menstruation, possible diseases and methods of treating problems in the body.

Main symptoms

Signs of amenorrhea have only one obvious side - a long absence of menstrual periods. Otherwise, the manifestations depend on the causes of its occurrence. It is easier to detect the syndrome when there are no periods due to anatomical features, that is, with a false type.

Blood accumulated in the cavities of the internal genital organs provokes abdominal pain, nausea, and sweating. To be more precise and detailed about all types, amenorrhea has the following symptoms:

• Defects of the reproductive organs that are obvious to a specialist in the primary nature of the syndrome caused by chromosomal abnormalities;
• Leakage of milk-like fluid from the nipples due to problems with the pituitary gland, emotional instability, headache;
• Excessive hair growth and body weight due to amenorrhea caused by PCOS;
• Weakness, hot flashes, rapid heartbeat with endocrine origin of the syndrome.

The severity of symptoms depends on the degree of amenorrhea. There are three of them:

• Initial. Lasts up to a year, does not cause much concern, slight expansion of the uterus is noticeable;
• Average. Can be stored for up to 3 years. The uterus is significantly dilated, the patient is bothered by vascular manifestations;
• Heavy. Lasts for over 3 years, with it changes in the body are pronounced and irreversible.

Is it possible to get pregnant?

One of the most serious manifestations of a long absence of menstruation is infertility. The fact is that ovulation with amenorrhea is excluded if we are talking about hormonal imbalance as the cause of the syndrome. And since there is no mature egg, conception is impossible. It will be possible to restore reproductive functions only after eliminating the main culprit for the absence of menstruation.

But even this type of amenorrhea can provoke infertility by the fact that the embryo is deprived of the chance to stay in the mucous membrane of the organ due to changes that have occurred in it. That is, correction of this condition is necessary in any case.

How to detect the syndrome?

Blood test for amenorrhea

To identify the syndrome, one sign is enough - the disappearance for a long time or non-arrival of menstruation during adolescence. But to identify the reasons that cause amenorrhea, diagnosis is extremely necessary.

An examination in a gynecological chair and an ultrasound of the pelvic organs will be essential. This will help identify existing defects in the formation of the reproductive system. If there is nothing of the kind, X-rays, CT and MRI of the head are indicated to identify a pituitary tumor. Problems with the ovaries require hormonal tests with gestagens and estrogens.

Genetic defects require studying the structure of sex chromosomes. The following tests are required for amenorrhea:

• Blood for thyroid and sex hormones;
• Blood for biochemistry to identify the reaction to glucose;
• Hysteroscopy of the uterus;
• Diagnostic laparoscopy.

Returning the reproductive system to normal

With a syndrome such as amenorrhea, treatment is mandatory if it is not caused by natural causes. Otherwise, a woman is threatened not only by infertility and poor health, but also by increased suspicion of cancer.

Methods are selected based on the main disease, only by a specialist, often more than one. In some cases, the attention of a gynecologist, endocrinologist and neurologist is required. Treatment options include:

• Surgery on the uterus for adhesions, tissue fusion, cervical stenosis;
• Removal of a pituitary tumor or radiation therapy;
• Vitamins for amenorrhea are required to restore the immune system, which is not strong enough in this condition. Complexes containing folic acid, tocopherol acetate, and magnesium preparations are shown. They help the production of estrogen, helping to restore the functionality of the ovaries.

We advise you to read the article about possible reasons for the delay of critical days. You will learn about the danger of a malfunction for the body, the diseases that provoke it, the need to see a doctor, diagnosis and treatment methods.

Hormones for health

Since the absence of menstruation is caused by a lack of substances such as estrogens, often in deficiency of FSH and luteinizing hormone, amenorrhea always requires elimination by means that stimulate their production or replace them.

The drugs are prescribed for a long period of time, and in some cases it is necessary to take them before the onset of menopause. This therapy method looks like this:

• Duphaston for amenorrhea, like its analogues Utrozhestan, Norkolut, is used for a lack of gestagens in the treatment of primary and secondary types;
• PCOS forces you to take gonadotropin-releasing hormones, as well as oral contraceptives containing estrogens and gestagens at the same time (Zhanin, Diane 35);
• In adolescents with inhibited sexual development and with endocrine problems that interfere with the functioning of the ovaries, the main manifestation that causes amenorrhea is estrogen deficiency. To replenish this type of hormones, Proginova, Estrofem, Divigel are prescribed;
• When ovarian hyperstimulation is necessary, the estrogen-suppressing Clomiphene is chosen as the basis of therapy.

Herbal recipes to restore function

Traditional treatment of amenorrhea is allowed as an additional treatment and is approved for use if the condition is caused by stress or diet. It requires:

• Parsley. Seasoning is crushed, 3 tbsp. Place in a thermos and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. You can take 100 ml 3 times a day every 10-12 hours. 3 weeks of use will be enough;
• Onion peel. Place a handful in 0.5 liters of boiling water and simmer over low heat until the broth darkens. Drink half a glass three times a day for a month;
• Borovaya uterus. 1 tsp The herbs are placed in 400 ml of boiling water, and the container with the composition is kept closed for 24 hours. After straining the infusion, drink 100 ml 40 minutes before meals 3 times. After a 5-day intake, take a break for 2 days, then treatment is resumed. The course will take a month.

When treatment is successful

Menstruation after amenorrhea returns quite quickly if the case is not advanced. It is possible that ovulation will not occur immediately in the first cycle. The nature of the discharge depends on the level of regeneration of ovarian tissue and uterine mucosa.

The main diagnosis plays an important role in this. More often, the discharge cannot be called abundant, but in general it is comparable to the norm.

If you discover a syndrome in yourself in the absence of objective reasons for it, you should not wait. Delay can deprive a woman of childbearing function and make the onset of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer more likely. And a disease “caught” in time increases the chances of its disappearance without negative consequences many times over.

Source: http://ProMesyachnye.ru/amenoreya/