Amenorrhea
Alternative Names
AmenorrheaWhat is Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. If you miss at least 3 periods you have this condition. In most cases amenorrhea is triggered by pregnancy. However there are some other reasons for having amenorrhea, e.g. problems with the reproductive organs or with the glands that help regulate hormone levels.
Signs and symptoms
The main sign of amenorrhea is absence of menstrual periods. In some cases you may experience:
- milky nipple discharge
- hair loss
- headache
- vision changes
- excess facial hai
Possible complications
Amenorrhea can lead to the following complications:
- infertility (inability to become pregnant due to menstruations absence)
- osteoporosis (if it is triggered by low estrogen levels)
What causes
Natural amenorrhea can be caused by:
- pregnancy
- breast-feeding
- menopause
The other causes of amenorrhea may include:
- taking birth control pills
- taking certain type of medications (antipsychotics, cancer chemotherapy, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs)
Lifestyle factors can also trigger amenorrhea. These factors are:
- stress
- low body weight
- excessive exercise
- hormonal imbalance
Prevention
You can prevent this condition by taking the following precautions:
- eat a balanced diet that meets your recommended daily nutritional needs
- exercise moderately, not excessively, to maintain an ideal body weight and muscle tone
- find healthy outlets for emotional stress and daily conflicts
- balance work, recreation and rest
- avoid excessive alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking
Treatment
It is important to discuss the treatment plan with your doctor. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your amenorrhea. Sometimes it is recommended to use contraceptive pills. that can restart your menstrual cycles.
