If you want to get pregnant, but are not having a monthly menstrual period, you might have a condition known as amenorrhea.
What is Amenorrhea?
Simply put, amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation in women.
There are two types of amenorrhea:
- Primary Amenorrhea
- Secondary Amenorrhea
Primary Amenorrhea refers to a girl who has not begun having a menstrual period by the age of 16. Usually, girls have gone through puberty by this age and are having a regular menstrual period every month.
Secondary Amenorrhea refers to women who have been having regular monthly menstrual periods, but then cease having a period for three months or longer.
Since the ability to conceive depends on an egg being released from the ovaries each month as part of the monthly cycle, amenorrhea can also mean there is no ovulation, and infertility would result.
Most women who are dealing with infertility issues due to not having a menstrual period are suffering from Secondary Amenorrhea.
What Causes Secondary Amenorrhea?
There are many causes of Primary and Secondary Amenorrhea:
- Adrenogenital Syndrome
- Chromosomal abnormalities
- Congenital heart disease
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Craniopharyngioma
- Chronic illness
- Cushings Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Extreme weight loss
- Genital abnormalities
- Gonadal dysgenesis
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypo or hyper thyroidism
- Hypogonodatropic hypogonadism
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Polycystic Ovarian Disease
- Testicular feminization
- True hermaphroditism
- Tumors of the pituitary or adrenal glands
- Tumors of the ovaries
As you can see, there really a great many things that can cause amenorrhea. Various tests would need to be performed to determine the exact cause in each person with the condition.
What is the Prognosis for Amenorrhea?
All in all, the outlook is good for resolving amenorrhea, depending on the cause. Many women can receive treatment and subsequently go on to get pregnant.
What are the Symptoms of Amenorrhea?
The most noticeable symptom is the absence of a menstrual period. Other symptoms might include:
- Increased facial hair
- Deepening of the voice
- Decreased breast size
- Breast secretions
- Low sex drive
Treatment of amenorrhea might be as simple as making some lifestyle changes, such as gaining or losing weight. In some cases, hormonal supplements are given to produce a monthly period and ovulation.
If you want to get pregnant but have stopped having a menstrual period, you should see your doctor for tests to determine the cause of your amenorrhea.
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