What causes amenorrhea? Let’s find out!

Everyone will age slowly. Women may experience menopause after the age of 45 due to physical aging. However, many people experience menopause before reaching this age. This is definitely abnormal. The reasons for this abnormality are as follows:

1. Malnutrition: Due to malnutrition or certain wasting diseases such as gastrointestinal dysfunction, severe tuberculosis, severe anemia, schistosomiasis, malaria, etc., systemic malnutrition affects the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and growth hormone in the hypothalamus, thereby inhibiting gonadotropin and hypogonadism and leading to primary or secondary amenorrhea.

2. Drug resistance syndrome: Some women develop secondary amenorrhea after injecting long-acting contraceptive injections or taking oral contraceptives. It is common in women who have menstrual disorders or take contraceptives too early after miscarriage. The drugs inhibit the function of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. But it is often reversible and usually recovers naturally within 3-6 months of stopping the medication.

3. Amenorrhea and galactorrhea syndrome: In addition to amenorrhea, the patient also has continuous lactation and atrophy of the internal genitalia. Decreased levels of prolactin inhibitory factor or dopamine in the hypothalamus can lead to abnormal lactation and insufficient secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, leading to amenorrhea. There are many causes of galactorrhea, such as oral contraceptives or long-term use of reserpine, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, etc., which can cause amenorrhea and galactorrhea syndrome.

4. Polycystic ovary syndrome: The main symptoms of patients are amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism, obesity, bilateral ovarian enlargement, high luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio, increased secretion of androstenedione and testosterone by the ovaries, and a corresponding decrease in estrogen, resulting in anovulation and amenorrhea.

5. Other endocrine dysfunctions: Dysfunction of the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and pancreas can also cause amenorrhea. Common diseases include hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, adrenal cortex hyperfunction, adrenal cortex tumors, etc.