Amenorrhea
Alternate Names : Absence of Menstrual Periods, Missed Menstrual Periods
What are the treatments for the condition?
If amenorrhea has lasted less than 6 months, a woman may not need treatment unless she has worrisome symptoms or a problem is found:
in her hormone levels
on X-ray or ultrasound
Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, treatment varies. Diet and exercise generally correct abnormal periods due to obesity. Stress management and not exercising too much helps, too.
Because ovaries are not producing eggs or certain hormones, a woman may be given:
birth control pills
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if she has reached menopause
short-term oral progesterone pills or ovulation-inducing agents, such as clomiphene, for infertility
Birth control pills and HRT drugs contain estrogen and progesterone or sometimes progesterone alone. The hormones may be used to:
induce a period
prevent bone loss
Surgery may be required for:
tumors
ovarian cysts
defects in the uterus or vagina
Rarely, surgery is done when chromosome abnormalities are found.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Hormones may cause minor side effects such as:
breast tenderness
nausea
headaches
PMS symptoms
abdominal bloating
Occasionally, more serious side effects can occur with hormone therapy including blood clots, liver tumors, and endometrial cancer. Though these are quite rare, it is important for women to discuss the risks and benefits of hormone therapy with their healthcare provider.
Drugs to induce ovulation may trigger:
hot flashes
headaches
ovarian cysts
mid-cycle pain
What happens after treatment for the condition?
When a younger woman has amenorrhea, normal periods often resume within a few years. Most women who are diagnosed and treated early can avoid surgery by taking hormones. If a woman wishes to get pregnant and not ovulating is the only infertility problem facing the couple, a success rate of 70% to 80% is possible.
After a woman stops taking birth control pills, she may not get a period for 2 to 3 months, though it may take a year or longer. If an unusual stress or illness has temporarily stopped a woman's periods, the problem will usually resolve on its own. It may recur at a later date.
How is the condition monitored?
If a woman misses more than one period, she should talk with her healthcare provider. It helps to:
discuss any medicines or supplements she is taking
keep a record of periods, marking down length, days between cycles, frequency, and flow patterns
find out if there is a family history of infertility, ovarian cysts, or irregular cycles
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