Contents:
- Medical Video: 5 Common Causes of Amenorrhea
- What is amenorrhea?
- What are the dangers of not having menstruated for a long time?
- 1. Pituitary tumor
- 2. Amenorrhea in patients with anorexia nervosa
- 3. The discharge of fluid like milk from the breast
- 4. Amenorrhea after childbirth
Medical Video: 5 Common Causes of Amenorrhea
Menstruation or menstruation is important for a woman. Normal menstruation indicates that the woman is ready to reproduce and shows that your reproductive system is healthy and functioning properly. Amenorrhea, which is not menstruating for some time, is one of the menstrual disorders that can also be dangerous if accompanied by other symptoms. What are the risks of amenorrhea for women's health? Find out the full information below.
What is amenorrhea?
Amenorrhea is a non-menstrual condition or no menstruation for at least three consecutive months. Amenorrhea is divided into two, namely primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.
Primary amenorrhea occurs when a woman is more than 18 years old but has never had a period or has not had a period at all. Secondary amenorrhea occurs when women who have menstruated for the first time suddenly do not have menstruation more than three consecutive months (but not pregnant).
What are the dangers of not having menstruated for a long time?
There are several danger signs of amenorrhea along with other disorders that usually accompany if a woman has not had a long period, at least three months. This is because in most cases, amenorrhea is a sign or symptom of another disease, not an illness itself. So what needs to be worried is that there are other diseases that you secretly have.
Here are some possible dangers or diseases that cause it if a woman has not had a long period.
1. Pituitary tumor
Tumors in the pituitary (in the brain) generally show symptoms of amenorrhea accompanied by complaints of headaches and visual disturbances. However, this tumor is also sometimes indicated by irregular menstrual symptoms. If you suspect this condition, see a doctor immediately.
2. Amenorrhea in patients with anorexia nervosa
In patients with anorexia nervosa, amenorrhea is the initial symptom before the patient becomes thin, has no appetite, and has severe nutritional disorders without lethargy or looks very weak. After amenorrhea, new patients experience a decrease in basal metabolic rate, epigastric pain, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), lower body temperature than normal and bradycardia or a slowing heart rate.
Patients will also appear very thin with symptoms of growing fine hairs. If it is severe enough, it will experience atrophy or reduction of the reproductive organs so that the patient will find it difficult to have children (infertile).
Therefore, if you or the closest person is suspected of having anorexia and has no menstruation for months, immediately check with your doctor to get the best treatment.
3. The discharge of fluid like milk from the breast
Amenorrhea is called galactorrhea amenorrhea, which is amenorrhea accompanied by the release of a milk-like liquid from the breast. This is caused by a disruption of the hormone gland.
Patients usually become rather obese which in turn will occur atrophy or reduction of the reproductive organs. This atrophy will make you infertile.
The cause of galactorrhea amenorrhea is still unclear. Allegedly due to the presence of pituitary tumors and the consumption of antihypertensive drugs or sedatives in the long term.
4. Amenorrhea after childbirth
After giving birth, women generally do not have menstruation. However, be careful if during breastfeeding there is a lot of bleeding and is accompanied by shock conditions or lack of blood in the blood vessels. This is often called Sheehan syndrome.
This syndrome is caused by the occurrence of necrosis, which is damage to the tissue in the organs that make up the reproductive hormones. In addition to amenorrhea, the production of breast milk can be inhibited, accompanied by a reduction in the reproductive organs and decreased libido. This can cause women to be difficult to get pregnant again.
If you experience amenorrhea and are accompanied by symptoms that have already been mentioned, you should immediately see a doctor before getting more sustainable.
