Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation, which can be primary, when menstruation is not enough for adolescents 14 to 16 years old, or secondary, when menstruation stops coming, in women who have had their period before.
Amenorrhea can occur from a number of causes, some natural ones, such as pregnancy, lactation or continued use of contraceptives, or certain diseases, abnormalities of a woman’s reproductive system, changes in ovarian hormones, and even being caused by stress, eating disorders or excesses.physical exercise.
Absence of menstruation can occur for several reasons, divided into two types:
It is important to get tested for pregnancy whenever there is amenorrhea, as it is possible to become pregnant even in case of irregular menstrual cycle or absence for a long time.
The main causes of amenorrhea are pregnancy, lactation and menopause, which are natural causes in the body, at times when changes in levels of hormones progesterone and estrogen are common.
However, other causes of amenorrhea are caused by diseases, medications, or habits, such as:
– Hormonal changes, such as excess prolactin, testosterone, hyper or hypothyroidism;
– Brain changes, such as deregulation or pituitary tumors;
– Polycystic Ovary Syndrome;
– Early menopause.
Changes to the reproductive system
– No uterus or ovaries;
– Changes in the structure of the vagina;
– Hymen imperforate, when menstruation has nowhere to go;
– Uterine scars or Asherman syndrome;
– Eating disorders, such as anorexia;
– Excessive physical activity, common in athletes;
– Very fast weight loss;
Obesity;
– Anxiety depression
– continuous contraceptives;
– antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine;
– anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin;
– Antipsychotics, such as haldol, risperidone;
– antihistamines, such as ranitidine, cimetidine;
– Chemotherapy
Treatment of amenorrhea depends on the cause, it is done with the advice of the gynecologist, who will determine the best option for each case, so some options are:
Natural treatments can help in some cases of delayed menstruation due to changes in the menstrual cycle, in women without significant hormonal dysregulation or other diseases, and some examples are cinnamon tea and dying tea. Learn more about what to make and tea recipes for late menstruation. .
The possibility of pregnancy, in case of amenorrhea, depends on the cause, the correction of hormones for the normal functioning of the ovaries, can regulate ovulation and fertility, or may be induced by the use of drugs, such as clomiphene, for example., allowing for a pregnancy naturally.
If the ovary is absent it is also possible to have a pregnancy, by donating eggs, however, in the absence of uterus or major deformities of the reproductive system, which are not resolved with surgery, pregnancy is initially not possible..
It is important to remember that women who have irregular periods may become pregnant, although this is more difficult, so precautions should be taken to avoid unwanted pregnancies, a conversation should be made with the gynecologist to know the possibilities and treatments of each woman.are evaluated, according to their needs and desires, in relation to pregnancy and contraception.