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Contents
  • Common Causes of Secondary Amenorrhea
  • The Role of Systemic Illness
  • Ovarian and Uterine Factors

What Causes Secondary Amenorrhea? The Surprising Truth

What Causes Secondary Amenorrhea? The Surprising Truth

Understanding the Issue

Secondary amenorrhea is when women who previously had regular periods stop menstruating for three months or longer. Understanding the causes is crucial for effective treatment and management.
Contents
  • Common Causes of Secondary Amenorrhea
  • The Role of Systemic Illness
  • Ovarian and Uterine Factors

Common Causes of Secondary Amenorrhea

Secondary amenorrhea can arise from various issues in the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovaries, and uterus. Hypothalamic dysfunction accounts for 35% of cases, often due to stress or weight loss. Ovarian issues like PCOS contribute to 40% of cases, while pituitary problems such as hyperprolactinemia make up 17% of cases.

The Role of Systemic Illness

Systemic illnesses like diabetes and celiac disease can disrupt menstrual cycles, leading to amenorrhea. These conditions may decrease hypothalamic GnRH secretion or cause nutritional deficiencies. For instance, type 1 diabetes significantly increases the risk of menstrual irregularities.
Secondary amenorrhea occurs when women who previously had regular menstrual cycles stop menstruating for three months or longer, often due to hormonal imbalances or systemic illnesses.

Ovarian and Uterine Factors

Ovarian disorders like primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) can lead to amenorrhea due to early menopause. Uterine issues such as intrauterine adhesions, known as Asherman syndrome, prevent the normal menstrual cycle by scarring the uterine lining.

FAQs

What is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea?

Pregnancy is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea.

How does PCOS relate to amenorrhea?

PCOS leads to hormonal imbalances that can cause irregular or missed periods.

Can stress cause secondary amenorrhea?

Yes, stress can lead to hypothalamic dysfunction, causing amenorrhea.

What is Asherman syndrome?

Asherman syndrome is uterine scarring that disrupts normal menstruation.

Wrapping It Up

Understanding the diverse causes of secondary amenorrhea is key to finding the right treatment.
Talk with Doctronic today to explore the underlying causes of secondary amenorrhea.
Additional References
  1. Reindollar RH, Novak M, Tho SP, McDonough PG. Adult-onset amenorrhea: a study of 262 patients. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1986; 155:531.
  2. Ibáñez L, Oberfield SE, Witchel S, et al. An International Consortium Update: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Adolescence. Horm Res Paediatr 2017; 88:371.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.