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Suggest Treatment For Prolonged Adolescent Amenorrhoea
Question: I'm a female 18 years old. when I was about 14 I had what I thought was my first period , but bleeding lasted about 5 weeks. Once that stoped, I haven't had a period since. It has been embarassing so I have not told anyone.
Why could this be ?Does this mean, I won't be able to have children?
Why could this be ?Does this mean, I won't be able to have children?
Brief Answer:
Prolonged adolescent amenorrhoea
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query to HCM,
Menstrual irregularity is a common occurrence during adolescence, especially within the first 2-3 years after menarche. Prolonged amenorrhea,as in your case for last 4 years, however, is not normal and can be associated with significant medical morbidity, which differs depending on whether the adolescent is estrogen-deficient or estrogen-replete.
Estrogen-deficient amenorrhea is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk, while estrogen-replete amenorrhea can lead to dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the short term and predispose to endometrial carcinoma in the long term. In both situations, appropriate intervention can reduce morbidity.
Also another possibility is that of Hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is the most prevalent cause of amenorrhea in the adolescent age group, followed by polycystic ovary syndrome. In anorexia nervosa, exercise-induced amenorrhea, and amenorrhea associated with chronic illness, an energy deficit results in suppression of hypothalamic secretion of GnRH, mediated in part by leptin may also be other causes which need to be ruled out during a complete evaluation.
It is suggested that you should visit your physician soon and get a complete gyne examination done along with a hormonal profile and a ultrasound pelvis to look for hormonal and mechanical obstructive causes for such prolonged amenorrhoea.
Regards
Prolonged adolescent amenorrhoea
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for the query to HCM,
Menstrual irregularity is a common occurrence during adolescence, especially within the first 2-3 years after menarche. Prolonged amenorrhea,as in your case for last 4 years, however, is not normal and can be associated with significant medical morbidity, which differs depending on whether the adolescent is estrogen-deficient or estrogen-replete.
Estrogen-deficient amenorrhea is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk, while estrogen-replete amenorrhea can lead to dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the short term and predispose to endometrial carcinoma in the long term. In both situations, appropriate intervention can reduce morbidity.
Also another possibility is that of Hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is the most prevalent cause of amenorrhea in the adolescent age group, followed by polycystic ovary syndrome. In anorexia nervosa, exercise-induced amenorrhea, and amenorrhea associated with chronic illness, an energy deficit results in suppression of hypothalamic secretion of GnRH, mediated in part by leptin may also be other causes which need to be ruled out during a complete evaluation.
It is suggested that you should visit your physician soon and get a complete gyne examination done along with a hormonal profile and a ultrasound pelvis to look for hormonal and mechanical obstructive causes for such prolonged amenorrhoea.
Regards
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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