Menstruation in women is necessary, even though they say it’s a burden since it causes pain. Their natural body chemicals or what we call their hormones are what causes their ovaries to release an egg once every month. Most of the months, the egg and the lining of their uterus come from their vagina as their period –this is actually part of their menstrual cycle. This is a very important matter for them, because this is what makes it possible for a certain woman to get pregnant and have a baby. However, there are some instances wherein menstruation do not occur –this commonly known as amenorrhea. This is an abnormality in the menstrual cycle, and this isn’t just a simple problem, it’s a serious one. Hence, having proper knowledge about the condition is necessary. Also the treatments for amenorrhea is significant as well.
What is Amenorrhea?
This is the absence of menstruation in women. This abnormality in the menstruation may be characterized by missing one or more menstrual periods. Those who have missed a row of no less than three menstrual periods, may already have amenorrhea. This medical condition is the sudden stop of the menstrual cycle in women even though she has a regular cycle. Furthermore, this shouldn’t be confused with menopause. This is since menopause amongst women may only be seen in the early fifties.
Amenorrhea is in itself not a disease. However, it may be an indication of various probable diseases. Furthermore, it has also been observed that amenorrhea may affect teenage girls and hose who are in the middle age. In teenage girls, the condition is characterized by an extended delay or the failure to reach the phase of puberty.
Types of Amenorrhea
The condition is actually divided into two types, and they are the following:
- Primary Amenorrhea: this type of amenorrhea is actually referred to as the delay in the beginning of puberty. Whatever delay in reaching the phase of puberty may cause hormonal imbalances in the body, which may affect the growth and the development in a major way.
- Secondary Amenorrhea: this type of amenorrhea on the other hand, is often perceived in certain women who already have undergone menstrual cycles in the past. The sudden stop in the menstrual cycle at a very young age or even in the middle age of a woman is a concerning situation. Moreover, this may have a serious impact on the overall health and the personal life.
Causes of Amenorrhea
The natural changes in the body may cause the menstrual period to stop. For example, a certain woman is menstruating during breastfeeding and pregnancy. Moreover, there are some probable causes as well as risk factors for the condition. and there are also times that the cause is unknown.
Here are some of the causes and risk factors for amenorrhea:
- Scar tissue in the uterus
- Pituitary tumor which is usually non-cancerous
- Radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer
- Various medications like blood pressure medicines and antidepressants
- The use of contraceptives to control birth
- Excessive exercise
- Extreme emotional stress
- Overactive thyroid gland
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Leptin deficiency
- Low body fat levels
- Obesity
Some other causes of hormonal conditions that may lead to amenorrhea include:
- Problems in the ovaries
- Genetic disorders or defects
- Long-term illnesses like cystic fibrosis or heart diseases
Symptoms of Amenorrhea
Here are some of the most common symptoms of amenorrhea:
- High anxiety
- Frequent occurrence of headaches
- Significant weight loss or weight gain
- Dryness of the vagina
- Sudden change in the voice
- Hirsutism or excessive or sudden hair growth similar to men
- Galactorrhea or the process of lactation
Treatments for Amenorrhea
The treatments for amenorrhea will actually depend on what really causes the condition. however, the treatments for amenorrhea may include changes in the lifestyle, surgery, some medications, or the combination of any of these methods. Furthermore, there are also some home remedies that can be beneficial in treating the condition.
Lifestyle Change
The lifestyle change may include:
- Modifying the way you eat or train (if you are an athlete)
- Some interventions that may reduce stress
- Taking necessary steps in reaching a weight that is healthy and maintains that particular weight.
Medical Treatments
Here are some of the surgical treatments that may be beneficial for amenorrhea:
- PCOS medications
- Estrogen replacement therapy
- Hormonal medications like birth control pills
Surgical treatments
Below are two of the most common surgical treatments that are beneficial for the condition:
- Removal of the non-cancerous tumor in the pituitary glands
- Removal of the scar tissue in the uterus
Home Remedies for Amenorrhea
Here are some of the most amazing and most beneficial home remedies for amenorrhea:
- Saffron
- Cinnamon
- Tomato juice
- Chasteberry
- Fenugreek
- Sweet fennel
- Dill weed
- Blue cohosh
- Lemon balm
- False unicorn
- Angelica sinensis
