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Secondary amenorrhea

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• Symptoms
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Definition:

Secondary amenorrhea is lack of periods for 6 or more months in a woman who has already started menstruation and who is not pregnant, lactating, or in menopause.

See also:

Menstruation - Absent

Primary amenorrhea

Alternative Names:

Amenorrhea - secondary

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

About 4% of women have secondary amenorrhea. There are many reasons for missing a period.

You are at an increased risk of secondary amenorrhea if you engage in extreme and prolonged exercise (particularly without adequate conditioning), have less than 15 - 17% body fat, are obese, or take hormonal supplements.

Anxiety and emotional distress can also cause a missed period.

The following drugs may also cause missed periods: 

• Busulfan
• Chlorambucil
• Cyclophosphamide
• Phenothiazines 
• Oral contraceptives
• Non-oral contraceptives such as Depo-Provera

Also, procedures such as a dilation and curettage ( D and C ) can cause a woman to develop amenorrhea if scar tissue develops within the uterine cavity.

References:

Stenchever MA, Droegemueller W, Herbst AR.  Comprehensive Gynecology . 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:1109-1119.

Rakel P, ed. Conn ’s Current Therapy 2005 . 57th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:1291-1293.

• Review Date: 5/10/2006
• Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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