When do you investigate primary amenorrhea?
The identification of primary amenorrhea should always prompt a thorough evaluation to identify a cause [1]. At age 13 years, if no menses have occurred and there is a complete absence of secondary sexual characteristics such as breast development, evaluation for primary amenorrhea should begin.
Can you get pregnant with primary amenorrhea?
Primary amenorrhea affects fertility because if you have never experienced menstruation, you are most likely unable to ovulate. A failure to ovulate means that you are not producing viable eggs to be inseminated by your partner’s sperm, so you cannot get pregnant.
How rare is primary amenorrhea?
Primary amenorrhoea affects less than 1% of adolescent girls. Secondary amenorrhoea is much more common than primary amenorrhoea. The causes of amenorrhoea are listed in Table 72.6. Patients with primary amenorrhoea show the prepubertal appearance of the uterus and ovaries.
Is PCOS primary or secondary amenorrhea?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) usually presents as secondary amenorrhea, but in some cases may present as primary amenorrhea.
Is Primary amenorrhea permanent?
What is amenorrhea? Amenorrhea is when you don’t get your monthly period. It can be temporary or permanent. Amenorrhea can result from a change in function or a problem with some part of the female reproductive system.
Which is not primary amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea can be classified as primary or secondary. In primary amenorrhea, menstrual periods have never begun (by age 16), whereas secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for three consecutive cycles or a time period of more than six months in a woman who was previously menstruating.
How do you fix primary amenorrhea?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of your amenorrhea. In some cases, birth control pills or other hormone therapies can restart your menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea caused by thyroid or pituitary disorders may be treated with medications.
What are the differential diagnoses for amenorrhea?
Endocrinology and internal medicine. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the overproduction of androgens due to abnormal cortisol synthesis in the adrenal cortex.
Which types of drugs cause amenorrhea?
The use of opiates (such as heroin) on a regular basis has also been known to cause amenorrhoea in longer term users. Anti-psychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia have been known to cause amenorrhoea as well. New research suggests that adding a dosage of Metformin to an anti-psychotic drug regimen can restore menstruation.
How is amenorrhea diagnosed?
The diagnosis of amenorrhea requires a careful medical history to document the presence of amenorrhea as well as any other coexisting medical conditions that may be the cause of amenorrhea. A physical examination, including a pelvic examination is also performed.
What are the treatments for amenorrhea?
Some causes of amenorrhea can be managed by medical (drug) therapy. Examples include the following: Dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine ( Parlodel) or pergolide (Permax), are effective in treating hyperprolactinemia. In most women, treatment with dopamine agonists medications restores normal ovarian endocrine function and ovulation.