Amenorrhea »
What is amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is the medical term for the absence of menstrual periods, either on a
permanent or temporary basis. Amenorrhea can be classified as primary or
secondary. In primary amenorrhea, menstrual periods have never begun (by age
16), whereas secondary amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstrual periods
for three consecutive cycles or a time period of more than six months in a woman
who was previously menstruating.
The menstrual cycle can be influenced by many internal factors such as
transient changes in hormonal levels, stress, and illness, as well as external or
environmental factors. Missing one menstrual period is rarely a sign of a
serious problem or an underlying medical condition, but amenorrhea of longer
duration may signal the presence of a disease or chronic condition.
What causes amenorrhea?
The normal menstrual cycle occu...
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