What is secondary amenorrhea?
According to Dr. Chetna Jain, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cloudnine Group Hospitals (India), secondary amenorrhea is a condition in which a woman of reproductive age does not have a menstrual period for three consecutive cycles. Secondary amenorrhea is a symptom of a health problem that can be related to hormones, structure or lifestyle.
What causes secondary amenorrhea?
According to research published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology A Competency Based Companion, there are many causes of secondary amenorrhea such as:
Hormonal imbalance:
In an analysis published in StatPearls, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have disrupted ovulation due to androgen excess. Approximately 30-40% of women with secondary amenorrhea have a cause related to chronic anovulatory disorders (lack of ovulation) such as PCOS.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) are some of the conditions that affect the menstrual cycle including secondary amenorrhea.
High levels of prolactin (a hormone responsible for milk production) inhibit ovulation.
Premature ovarian failure leads to decreased estrogen production causing secondary infertility.
Lifestyle factors:
Rapid weight loss, low body fat, or eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can lead to amenorrhea. Obesity can also affect hormonal balance.
Vigorous physical activity can suppress ovulation.
Psychological or physical stress can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is the master regulator of the female reproductive system.
Reproductive system problems:
Asherman's syndrome: This is a condition that results in uterine scarring, often due to surgeries such as dilation and curettage.
Uterine abnormalities: Uterine fibroids or polyps can lead to missed or irregular periods.
Medications and medical treatments:
Birth control pills: Hormonal birth control pills or intrauterine devices can disrupt your menstrual cycle. According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, taking hormonal birth control pills can stop your menstrual cycle.
Antipsychotics, antidepressants, and chemotherapy drugs can also affect your menstrual cycle.
Radiation therapy or surgery: Treatments that target the pelvic area or brain can affect reproductive hormones.
Chronic diseases:
Diabetes: In a study published in the journal Human Reproduction found that diabetes can affect hormone regulation, in a group of prepubertal diabetics 7% of them had secondary amenorrhea.
Pituitary tumors: These are benign tumors of the pituitary gland that can affect hormone production.
