Amenorrhea, or the so-called menopause, is one of the conditions that affect women with age.
Types of menopause
Amenorrhea is divided according to the age at which it occurs into the following
Primary amenorrhea: This condition occurs when menstruation stops shortly after it started, at the age of 14-16 years.
Secondary amenorrhea: It is the absence of the menstrual cycle for a period of 6 continuous months or the absence of 3 continuous menstrual cycles.
Menopausal symptoms
Symptoms of menopause include
Secretion of milk from the nipple.
hair loss
Headache.
Warts.
Excess hair growth on the face.
pelvic pain
Causes and risk factors of menopause
The causes of amenorrhea can be divided as follows
Hormonal causes, including the following
Various disorders in the endocrine system.
Decreased or complete lack of production of female hormones.
Anatomical reasons
It is divided as follows
Brain causes
They include the following
Stress.
Great physical effort.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.
Stop taking birth control pills.
In all of these cases, the process of secreting Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GNRH) from the midbrain is damaged, causing damage to the performance of the endocrine system, partially or completely.
2. Causes originating in the midbrain
This is due to a congenital defect centered in the brain building, as a result of which the midbrain is unable to activate the pituitary gland, and the ovaries do not function and none of the secondary signs of puberty appear.
3. Causes originating from the pituitary gland
This is caused by the following
Excess production of the milk hormone (Prolactin).
Disturbances in the performance of the hormone that activates the adrenal gland.
Disturbances in the performance of the hormone that activates the thyroid gland.
phantom pregnancy
Tumors of the pituitary gland.
Exposure of the midbrain or pituitary gland to trauma or bruising.
Pituitary infection.
4. Causes of ovarian origin
They include the following
Early onset of menopause.
Congenital defect in the maturation of the ovaries.
Turner syndrome.
Polycystic ovaries.
Causes originating from the uterus and the birth canal
They include the following
Absence of the uterus or cervix, or the largest part of the uterus: This is usually due to a congenital defect.
Male hormone inactivity syndrome: In this case, there are no female reproductive organs, including the ovaries.
Asherman syndrome: where there is an infection in the uterine cavity.
Cervical obstruction: due to infection, tumors, or surgery to remove part of the cervix.
Presence of barriers in the vagina: This is due to a congenital defect.
Obstruction of the hymen from birth: In such a situation, the endocrine system in the woman''s body works normally.
Natural causes
They include the following
Teen.
pregnancy.
lactation.
premenopausal period.
Complications of menopause
Complications of menopause include
Infertility and pregnancy problems.
Psychological pressure.
Osteoporosis.
Cardiovascular problems.
pelvic pain
Diagnosis of menopause
A comprehensive and accurate physical examination is performed on the patient, and hormonal tests, including a pregnancy test, are performed during her menstrual period.
It is preferable to try to stimulate menstruation with progesterone-containing drugs, and the source of the problem is usually determined according to the concentrations of different hormones.
Menopause treatment
Treatment is usually for cases of primary amenorrhea, and is determined according to the cause of the problem as follows:
Cases of non-production of estrogen
In this case, treatment is done with drugs that contain estrogen and progesterone, in order to stimulate the tissues controlled by these hormones to show the secondary signs of puberty.
Cases of estrogen production with no ovulation
A drug containing progesterone is added once a month for several days, and if the patient intends to become pregnant in the future, she is treated with drugs that stimulate ovulation.
Cases of absence of a uterus
This is due to a congenital problem or damage to the uterus, and in such a case, the surrogate mother is resorted to.
Prevention of amenorrhea
In fact, there are no clear ways in which menopause can be prevented, especially since it is a normal condition during a certain period of life.
