Amenorrhea is the absence of the menstrual cycle ; There are 2 types of amenorrhea: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea .
Usually, the appearance of the first menstruation takes place between 10 and 15 years. If at the age of 16 the menstrual cycle has not yet occurred it is called primary amenorrhea and in this case it is advisable to consult the gynecologist who will evaluate the causes.
There is talk, instead, of secondary amenorrhea when menstruation disappears, for more than three consecutive months, in a woman who already had her period regularly.
It is superfluous to point out that even in this case it is very important to ask the advice of a specialist.
Secondary amenorrhea: symptoms
The main symptom of secondary amenorrhea is precisely the absence of menstruation which lasts, as already mentioned, at least three or four consecutive months .
In reality, however, a woman should always be very careful about the interval between one menstrual cycle and the next and go to the gynecologist already when the time elapsing between menstruation elongates and goes well beyond the normal 28 days .
We are not talking about those cases in which a woman has a longer but regular cycle, for example a cycle of 30 days instead of 28, but of those in which a lot longer, for example between 50 and 80 days (oligomenorrhea).
Secondary amenorrhea, what are the causes?
It is very well known that there are no menstruation during pregnancy and after childbirth. Secondary amenorrhea is in fact physiological both during the nine months of gestation and during the puerperium .
In women who breastfeed the absence of the normal menstrual cycle after childbirth may be longer than those who do not breastfeed.
Even when you stop taking the contraceptive pill, it can happen that menstruation takes a few months to come back.
Menstruation is the result of a series of phenomena that require the normal functioning of the ovaries, uterus and hypothalamic-pituitary area.
Therefore, some of the main causes of secondary amenorrhea are:
- Injuries to one or more of the districts that control the menstrual cycle
- traumas
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, a major cause of secondary amenorrhea,
- hyperprolactinaemia
- Hypo and hyper-thyroidism
- Organ failure (hepatopathies, nephropathies)
- Pathologies of the uterus
- Early menopause
- Some medications
But also:
- Physical and psychic stress
- Anorexia and other eating disorders
It is important to know what are the causes of your secondary amenorrhea as their discovery allows you to start a proper treatment.
Secondary amenorrhea, some advice
When you suffer from this disorder it is good:
- Do not wait too long before asking for expert advice.
- Follow a healthy and balanced diet and never over-stress the fat levels in the body, a factor that plays a very important role in the formation of estrogen.
- Performing regular physical activity is important but be careful not to overdo it as excessive activity can alter the balance of the menstrual cycle .
- The use of vitamin A, E and B6 supplements can help the regularity of the menstrual cycle ; avoid, however, DIY and always contact your doctor to find out the most suitable dosage for your specific case.
- Proper stress management is a useful tool to preserve the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Yes, therefore, to all those activities that help you relax, for example yoga classes or imaginative relaxation techniques.