Have you missed your first period? or have you missed one or more periods? It might be a sign of amenorrhea.
In this article, Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, one of the top gynecologists in Mumbai, will talk about amenorrhea and its treatment.
What is Amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is the absence of periods, defined as missing two or more menstrual periods or if you have not got your first periods.
Amenorrhea often happens due to problems with the female reproductive organ or other underlying causes. If you have amenorrhea, consult your doctor immediately, says Dr. Hrishikesh Pai,one of the best gynecologist in Mumbai.
Types of amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is classified into two types:
- Primary amenorrhea: It is called primary amenorrhea if you are over the age of 15 and have not got your first period yet.
- Secondary amenorrhea: Secondary amenorrhea is when you have been getting regular or irregular periods but stopped getting your periods for three to six months or more.
What causes amenorrhea?
A variety of reasons can cause amenorrhea.
1. Structural issues
If anatomical factors result in amenorrhea, it may accompany abdominal pain, cramping, and discomfort in the pelvic region. According to a physician, around 10% of period cramps are severe enough to affect most women’s daily routines. They often wonder how to relieve menstrual cramps to return to their everyday life. Medical practitioners prescribed muscle relaxers such as the Soma pill for menstrual cramps. It has an onset of action of 30 minutes and helps relieve cramps by relaxing the uterine muscle.
- Lack of reproductive organs.
- During fetal development, problems could lead to a missing part in the reproductive system like the vagina, cervix, or uterus.
- As the reproductive part is not developed fully, this could cause amenorrhea later in life.
2. Blockage in the vagina
Any obstruction like a membrane or wall might block the outflow of blood.
3. Asherman’s syndrome
This is a condition where scar tissue builds up in the lining of the uterus; this happens after a Cesarean section or after getting treatment for uterine fibroids. This scarring prevents the shedding of the uterine lining.
4. Hormonal problems
Dr Hrishikesh Pai, an excellent IVF doctor in Delhi says hormonal problems are common reasons for amenorrhea.
- Thyroid issues: An underactive and overactive thyroid can cause irregular periods and even stop your menstrual cycle altogether.
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome): PCOS is one of the common reasons for secondary amenorrhea. PCOS causes an imbalance in hormones at high levels.
- Pituitary tumor: A tumor in your pituitary gland can interfere with the menstrual cycle.
5. Lifestyle
Some lifestyle factors that contribute to amenorrhea;
- Stress: Hypothalamus is an area in the brain that controls hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. Mental stress can interfere with this function, which leads to irregular periods. Managing stress can help resume regular periods.
- Excess exercise: Women who engage in activities that require excessive physical labor often have irregular periods or stopped periods.
- Low Body weight: Women low body weight very often face hormonal changes in the body that interrupt their menstrual cycle.
6. Medications
Certain medicines and treatments can cause amenorrhea, including,
- Chemotherapy
- Allergy medicines
- Blood pressure drugs
- Antidepressants
- Contraceptives
Some other natural causes of amenorrhea
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Menopause
Treatment for amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is treated naturally or through medications. Surgery is very rare in cases of amenorrhea.
Some changes that Dr. Hrishikesh Pai, one of the best infertility specialist in India suggests that can help with amenorrhea are,
- Losing weight
- Gain weight if you are underweight
- Manage Stress
- Exercise moderately
- Treatment for hormones
Estrogen therapy (a form of hormone replacement therapy that is often used to manage and treat menopausal symptoms)
You might need therapy if you have anorexia, an eating disorder. You might need surgery if you have a tumor in the pituitary gland.
Conclusion
Dr Hrishikesh Pai, one of the best IVF doctors in Delhi says that lifestyle changes play an important part during the reproductive years of a woman’s life. Adopting to a good lifestyle and adapting healthy lifestyles.
