Amenorrhoea Symptoms, Causes and Complications
Amenorrhoea is a lost period or total absence of them. It can be primary or secondary. The primary amenorrhoea is when the girl does not get periods until the age of 15. Secondary amenorrhea is a condition when a woman who has been getting periods does not get them for over three months.
Amenorrhea mainly occurs when the girl has reached puberty, is not pregnant, or has not reached a stage of menopause.
It can occur because of various reasons. However, if you have got a complaint of amenorrhea or you should visit your health care provider soon as it can be a sign of some underlying health condition.
Primary amenorrhea may occur due to hormonal imbalance because of anatomical problems in the female reproductive system. The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea is pregnancy. However, sometimes hormones also play a role in causing it.
Amenorrhea is different from irregular periods. It is the total absence of periods for over three months. While in irregular periods, you may get them off and on.
If you do not get your periods regularly, you can visit the health care provider. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with Gynecologist in Islamabad.
What Are The Symptoms of Amenorrhea?
The characteristic symptom of amenorrhea is missed periods, getting no periods at all. However, along with that, it may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Milky nipple discharge
- Excess facial hair
- Pelvic pain
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Vision changes
When Should You Visit a Doctor?
You should visit the doctor if you notice any irregularity in your periods or total absence in them. If the girl does not get periods at the right age until the age of 15, you must take them to the health care provider for examination. It may occur because of an underlying cause. Therefore, you should not delay the visit to the doctor.
What Causes Amenorrhoea?
Amenorrhea can occur because of various reasons, such as
- Consuming certain medications that include blood pressure medications, allergy medications, and antipsychotics
- Naturally, it can occur due to menopause pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Women who take contraceptives may also have a complaint of amenorrhea. It may take some time for the pills to get set and the periods to get regular.
- Lifestyle Factors also impact periods such as low body weight, too much physical activity. Stress can also cause you to miss periods leading to amenorrhea.
- Certain health conditions in which your hormones get imbalanced also affect the periods. It can happen because of the polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid disease, pituitary gland malfunctioning, and premature menopause.
- Problems in the structure of the female reproductive system can also lead to amenorrhea.
What Are The Complications of Amenorrhea?
The amenorrhea needs to be treated soon. Otherwise, it can lead to complications such as:
Problems with Pregnancy
To be fertile, you need to get periods. If you do not get periods, it means you are not ovulating.
Ovulation is the process in which ovulation is a process in which your ovary produces eggs that are fertilized with sperm to produce a baby. But if you do not ovulate in the first place, you cannot conceive a child.
Moreover, as amenorrhea occurs due to hormonal imbalance, it can cause miscarriages in problems with pregnancy. Therefore, you should not take it lightly and consult the problem with the health care provider.
Psychological Stress
Not getting periods at the right age can be stressful, especially for young girls transitioning into adulthood.
Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Disease
Having low levels of estrogen can lead to osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Pelvic Pain
If amenorrhea occurs due to anatomical problems, it may also cause pelvic pain.
The Bottom Line
Amenorrhea is the absence of periods. It should not be taken lightly. If you have the same complaint, you can consult with the Gynecologists in Shifa International Hospital.