Amenorrhea overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Amenorrhea, or amenorrhœa, is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age. Physiologic states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding), the latter also forming the basis of a form of contraception known as the lactational amenorrhea method. Outside of the reproductive years there is absence of menses during childhood and after menopause. Amenorrhea can be transient, intermittent, or permanent. Amenorrhoea is a symptom with many potential causes.
Historical Perspective
The Egyptian ancient belief honored menstrual blood as a life-giving nature. The Mesopotamian mother goddess, named Ninhursag, believed to create mankind from loam and her "blood of life". The first descriptions about disturbances in menstrual cycle are found in Papyrus Ebres [named after the Egyptologist Georg M. Ebers (1837-1898)], from New Kingdom period (1450-1550 B.C.E). They described the patients as a "women who suffers from the side of her pubic region as an irregularity of her menstruation". In 1907, British Medical Journal, released an article about different types of treatments (mostly herbal and conservative) for amenorrhea. In 1911, some researchers evaluate the therapeutic methods presented 4 years ago and make some suggestions to manage amenorrhea better. The term amenorrhea is derived from Greek language [a = negative, men = month, rhoia = flow], means lack of menstruation cycle in a woman.
Classification
Amenorrhea may be classified according to etiology into three subtypes, including primary amenorrhea, secondary amenorrhea, and functional amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is basically referred to a young girl that has not experienced menarche, at all, classified as hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and eugonadotropic state. Secondary amenorrhea reflects a woman that has ordinary menstruation cycles, experiencing at least 3 months of menstruation cycle absence, classified as polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, hypothalamic-pituitary failure, and ovarian failure. Functional amenorrhea is a subtype of the amenorrhea caused by exaggerated different lifestyles, classified as stress, weight loss, and exercise related groups.
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