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Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding.Amenorrhea is a normal feature in prepubertal, pregnant, and postmenopausal females. A dysfunction in any of these parts can prevent a person from getting a period:

• Hypothalamus: This controls the pituitary gland.
• Pituitary gland: Called “the master gland,” which produces the hormones that instruct the ovaries to ovulate.
• Ovaries
• Uterus

 Types

1. Primary Amenorrhea: Is when you haven’t gotten a first period by age 15 or within five years of the first signs of puberty.

Causes

• Turner syndrome:
  • . The ovaries are replaced by scar tissue and estrogen production is minimal, resulting in amenorrhea. Estrogen-induced maturation of the external female genitalia and sex characteristics also fails to occur in.
• Gonadal dysgenesis: premature failure of the ovaries.

2) Secondary Amenorrhea: Is when you’ve been getting regular periods, but you stop getting your period for at least three months, or you stop your menses for six months.  

• Causes
  • Stress
  • Poor nutrition.
  • Weight changes — extreme weight loss or obesity.
  • Exercising associated with low weight.
  • Elevated levels of the hormone prolactin 
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Asherman's syndrome

Diagnosis

Tests to assess the levels of the following hormones:

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Ultrasound
• A thyroid function test
• Pregnancy test

Treatment

• Stress management techniques.
• Changing exercise levels.
• Hormonal treatment
• Surgery
• Estrogen therapy 
• Gonadotropins medication
• Dopamine agonist medications can reduce elevated prolactin levels