Distinguishing primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea - how to recognize and treat

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Amenorrhea is one of the causes affecting reproductive health, especially a woman's ability to get pregnant. Based on the cause, the characteristics of amenorrhea phenomenon that amenorrhea are divided into 2 types: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for a specified time, except in the case of women before puberty, pregnant, lactating women or women after menopause. In addition to the above times, if a woman does not have a period, it may be a symptom of a medical condition.
Amenorrhea is divided into 2 types: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.

Primary amenorrhea is a condition in which a woman reaches puberty but has not had a period or in other words has reached menstruating age but has never had a period in her life.
The cause of primary amenorrhea is a problem with the hormone-producing parts related to menstruation such as: ovaries, pituitary gland, central nervous system. These include:
No ovaries or damaged ovaries No uterus or uterus abnormalities Defects of the sex organs The pituitary gland or the area of ​​the brain that produces hormone is problematic However There are also many cases of primary amenorrhea with no identifiable cause.

Secondary amenorrhea is a condition in which a woman who is menstruating suddenly stops having her period. The confirmed time as secondary amenorrhea in regular menses is 3 months, in irregular menses is 6 months.
Causes of secondary amenorrhea, including:
Women who are breast-feeding: menstruation is not stable, it is possible to have a period this month, but 5.6 months later, it still does not appear again Women During menopause, side effects of some medications, poor nutrition, frequent vigorous exercise or extreme sports, Sudden weight loss or rapid weight gain, Weak health, frequent illness Stress, a lot of pressure Due to the use of some contraceptives People with hormonal imbalance People with pituitary gland, hormone secreting parts have problems Premature ovarian failure Ovarian tumors Left uterine surgery scar.

The cause of primary amenorrhea is mostly due to problems with the reproductive organs and hormone-secreting organs, so the ability of these organs to function is not stable. People with primary amenorrhea can get pregnant, but the chances of conception are much lower than those of normal people.

There are many causes of secondary amenorrhea, the chances of getting pregnant are high or low depending on the cause. In general, people with secondary amenorrhea have irregular menstrual cycles that will also affect conception.

In order to effectively treat amenorrhea, it is necessary to determine the cause of amenorrhea and then devise an appropriate treatment plan. In some cases, it is necessary to use drugs or surgery, treat hormone disorders as directed by the doctor. Some cases can be self-treated at home by:
Having a reasonable diet, eating enough nutrients, keeping the body healthy In case of amenorrhea due to rapid weight loss, it is necessary to improve health return to normal weight In case of amenorrhea due to sudden weight gain, it is necessary to diet and exercise to lose weight Balance work and life, relieve stress Exercise with appropriate intensity When you see signs of amenorrhea Secondary amenorrhoea or secondary amenorrhea requires medical care with adequate expertise for examination and timely treatment, to avoid prolonging the disease and affecting fertility.