What is amenorrhea?

Amenorrhea is one of the most common symptoms in gynecological diseases. It is caused by problems in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovarian axis. There are several types of amenorrhea, including hypothalamic amenorrhea, pituitary amenorrhea, ovarian amenorrhea, and uterine amenorrhea. So what is amenorrhea? What are the symptoms of amenorrhea in women? Does it cause harm to women's bodies after menopause? What are the specific harms?

1.What is amenorrhea?

Amenorrhea is an external manifestation of pathological and physiological changes in women caused by a variety of diseases. It is a clinical symptom rather than a disease. According to the location of reproductive axis lesions and dysfunctions, it is divided into hypothalamic amenorrhea, pituitary amenorrhea, ovarian amenorrhea, uterine amenorrhea and amenorrhea due to lower reproductive tract developmental abnormalities. The World Health Organization classifies amenorrhea into three types: Type I: no endogenous estrogen production, normal or low follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, normal prolactin (PRL) levels, and no evidence of organic hypothalamic and pituitary lesions; Type II: endogenous estrogen production, normal FSH and PRL levels; Type III: elevated FSH levels, indicating ovarian failure.

Amenorrhea can also be divided into primary and secondary, physiological and pathological. Primary amenorrhea refers to the age >14 years, the secondary sexual characteristics have not developed; or the age >16 years, the secondary sexual characteristics have developed, but the menstruation has not yet occurred. Secondary amenorrhea refers to the cessation of menstruation for more than 6 months after the normal menstrual cycle is established, or the cessation of the original menstrual cycle for more than 3 cycles. Physiological amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation during pregnancy, lactation and after menopause. Pathological amenorrhea is amenorrhea caused directly or indirectly by functional or organic lesions in various links of the central nervous system-hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis and the target organ, the uterus.

2. Symptoms of amenorrhea

1. Prepubertal amenorrhea

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate can be detected in the urine of girls aged 6 to 9 years old, and it increases rapidly from the age of 10. This is a manifestation of the initial adrenal function. The androgen derived from the adrenal glands promotes the appearance of pubic hair and axillary hair, and the body grows rapidly. Because the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis has yet to be further developed, the estrogen level is still low, the endometrial proliferation is poor, and it will not cause bleeding, so menstruation is delayed. The absence of menstruation during the period before menarche is a physiological phenomenon. Some girls still have menstruation once every few months for a year or so after menarche, and it is also normal to have anovulatory menstruation.

2. Lactation amenorrhea

If a breastfeeding woman weans at any time, her menstruation usually resumes 2 months after weaning.

3. Menopausal transition and postmenopausal amenorrhea

During the menopausal transition period, uterine bleeding may occur once every few months. After menopause, the reproductive organs gradually atrophy and the uterus also shrinks.

3. The harm of amenorrhea

1. If a young married woman suffers from amenorrhea for a long time, it may lead to infertility.

2. Long-term amenorrhea and galactorrhea syndrome can lead to uterine atrophy and turn into blood deficiency, causing serious harm to women's bodies.

3. Amenorrhea caused by mental factors may cause some women to suffer from depression.

4. Premature ovarian failure is more harmful because of amenorrhea. It can cause genital atrophy, premature aging, sexual dysfunction, and may also lead to high blood pressure, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and other diseases.

5. Weight loss may lead to amenorrhea.

In fact, regarding the harm of amenorrhea, we should know that whether it is primary amenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea, we should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time, find out the cause of amenorrhea, and take effective treatment.