What is Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is an absence of menstruation. Women whose menses have missed at least for three months and girls who haven’t yet begun menstruation by the age of 16 are considered to have amenorrhea.
How Amenorrhea is classified?
Primary amenorrhea:
The absence of menstruation and secondary sexual characteristics e.g. breast development and pubic hair by 14 years.
Secondary amenorrhea:
A woman experience absence of periods for three or more months in the absence of pregnancy, lactation, contraceptive pills or menopause.
What are the causes of Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea can result from:
1. Hypothalamic causes:
A tumor near the pituitary gland.
Low body weight
Delayed growth
Kallmann syndrome
Sarcoidosis
Nutritional deficiency
2. Pituitary causes:
• Tumor of the pituitary gland
• Cells of the pituitary gland are destroyed
3. Ovarian causes and abnormalities of genital tract:
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Premature ovarian failure
• Anovulation
• Turner syndrome
• High levels of male hormones
• Radiation or chemotherapy
• Intrauterine adhesions
• An absence of the vagina, the cervix, or the uterus
• Pure gonadal dysgenesis
• Autoimmune oophoritis
• Galactosemia
4. Functional causes:
• Anorexia/bulimia
• Excessive stress
• Depression or psychiatric disorders
• Birth control pills
• Chronic diseases
• Excessive weight gain or loss
• Drug abuse
• Excessive exercise
What are the signs or symptoms of Amenorrhea?
The main symptom is the absence of menses
• Galactorrhea
• A headache or reduced peripheral vision
• Increased facial hair growth
• Vaginal dryness
• Heat flashes or night sweats
• Disturbed sleep
• Marked weight gain or weight loss
• Excessive anxiety
How to investigate Amenorrhea?
• Physical examination
• Pregnancy test
• Ovary function test
• Male hormone test
• Thyroid function test
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scan
• Hysteroscopy
What is a differential diagnosis of Amenorrhea?
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• Ovarian Insufficiency
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Abnormalities
• Pregnancy Diagnosis
• Cushing Syndrome
• Prolactinoma
• Luteinizing Hormone Deficiency
How is Amenorrhea treated by Homeopathy?
Calcarea carbonica
Cuprum metallicum
Pulsatilla
Sepia
Aconite
Apocynum
Graphites
Onosmodium
Cimcifuga
Phosphorus
Ignatia
