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Amenorrhea

The document discusses amenorrhea, which is the absence or abnormal cessation of menstruation. It defines physiological and pathological amenorrhea and describes the classification and etiology of primary and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of menstruation by age 16, while secondary amenorrhea is the cessation of established menses for over 6 months. Common causes include hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian dysfunction, congenital abnormalities, pregnancy, and thyroid or weight issues.

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Assoc Professor Dr MNM AZHAR Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences UNIMAS AMENORRHEA
AMENORRHEA Is the absence or abnormal cessation of the menses PHYSIOLOGIAL AMENORRHEA PATHOLOGIAL AMENORRHEA
CONTROL OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARY ENDOCRINE OVARIAN OUTFLOW TRACT AXIS
CLASSIFICATION OF AMENORRHEA Pre-puberty Pregnancy related Menopause Primary Secondary AMENORRHEA PHYSIOLOGICAL PATHOLOGICAL
AMENORRHEA A patient is diagnosed with primary amenorrhea if she has not reached menarche by age 16 with normal secondary sexual characteristics. Secondary amenorrhea if established menses have ceased for longer than 6 months without any physiological reasons. PATHOLOGICAL AMENORRHEA
ETIOLOGY OF AMENORRHEA HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARY ENDOCRINE OVARIAN OUTFLOW TRACT AXIS Congenital absent of uterus and vagina Vaginal atresia Imperforate hymen Asherman’s syndrome Pituitary adenoma Sheehan’s syndrome Hypothalamic-hypogonadism Weight related amenorrhea (anorexia nervosa) Hypothyroidism Gonadal dysgenesis Gonadal failure PCOS
Etiology of Amenorrhea Primary    Gonadal failure (43%)   Congenital absence of uterus and vagina (15%)   Constitutional delay (14%) Secondary     Chronic anovulation (39%) Hypothyroidism / hyperprolactinemia (20%)   Weight loss/anorexia (16%)
Primary Amenorrhea Primary amenorrhea is the failure to start menstruation by age of 16 in a girl with normal secondary sexual characteristics OR by the age of 14 where there is a failure to develop secondary sexual characteristics
HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY OVARIAN OUTFLOW TRACT CHROMOSOME MUTATION Primary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Androgen insensitivity (testicular feminization) Hypothalamic failure (Kallmann’s syndrome) Turner’s syndrome Gonadal dysgenesis Absent of uterus Absent of vagina Imperforate hymen
OUT FLOW TRACT DISORDERS (Imperforate hymen) Primary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Imperforate hymen represents one form of failure of complete canalization of the vagina. Most frequent obstructive anomaly of the female genital tract. Presentation: primary amenorrhea associated with cyclical abdomen pain – abdominal swelling and urinary retention. Signs: Bluish bulging membrane at the introitus
GONADAL DYSGENESIS (Turner’s syndrome) Primary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Chromosomal abnormalities ( 45XO female) Associated with streak ovarian tissue and primary amenorrhea. Presentation: primary amenorrhea associated with features of Turner’s syndrome – short stature, webbed neck, increased carrying angle at the elbow and sexual infantilism.
ANDROGEN INSENSITIVITY (Testicular feminization) Primary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - A syndrome found in patient with X, Y chromosome but resistant to androgens (androgen insensitivity. Has male karyotype (45XY) with female appearance. Presentation: Female appearance with normal breast development and external genitalia. Primary amenorrhea , absent uterus Gonad - testes Phenotype female Genotype female XY
HYPOTHALAMIC FAILURE (Kallmann’s syndrome) Primary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Congenital disorder characterized by: 1) Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism 2) Eunuchoidal features 3) Anosmia or hyposmia 4) Primary amenorrhea Caused by defect in synthesis and/or release of gonadorelin (LH releasing hormone) Phenotype female Genotype female
Secondary Amenorrhea Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual periods for 6 months in a woman who had previously been regular, or for 12 months in a woman who had irregular periods without any physiological reasons.
Secondary Amenorrhea - Physiological - The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea in reproductive age women is pregnancy and this should always be excluded by physical exam and laboratory testing for the pregnancy hormone - HCG.
HYPOTHALAMUS-PITUITARY OVARIAN OUTFLOW TRACT ENDOCRINE Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Hypothyroidism Cushing’s Adrenal tumour Ovarian tumour (androgen) Pituitary tumour Sheehan’s syndrome Hypothalamic dysfunction Premature ovarian failure PCOS Surgical removal Asherman’s syndrome Hysterectomy
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS) Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - PCOS accounts for 90% of cases of oligoamenorrhea Also known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome The etiology is probably related to insulin resistance, with a failure of normal follicular development and ovulation The classical picture – AMENORRHEA, OBESE, SUBINFERTILITY and HIRSUITISM
HYPOTHALAMIC CAUSES Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Hypothalamic dysfunction is a common cause (30%). It is more often seen as a result of stress, weight loss and eating disorders It may be due to tumour, infarction, thrombosis or inflammation.
PITUITARY CAUSES Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Pituitary failure - It is usually the acquired type as the result of trauma, treatment of pituitary tumour or infarction after massive blood loss ( Sheehan’s syndrome ) Pituitary tumour  hyperprolactinaemia which cause secondary amenorrhea.
ENDOCRINE CAUSES Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Thyroid disorder and Cushing’s disease interfere with the normal functioning of the hypothalamic -pituitary – ovarian axis  present with amenorrhea. High level of thyroxine inhibit FSH release. Androgen – secreting tumours of the ovaries  cause secondary amenorrhea.
ANATOMICAL CAUSES Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Usually due to previous surgery. Commonest example: 1). Hysterectomy 2). Endometrial ablation 3). Asherman’s syndrome (damage to the endometrium with adhesion formation) 4). Stenosis of the cervix following cone biopsy
PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Premature ovarian failure occurs in about 1% before the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure may be due to: 1). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 2). Autoimmune disease following viral infection 3). Following surgery for conditions such as endometriosis
DRUGS CAUSING HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA Secondary Amenorrhea - ETIOLOGY - Hyperprolactinaemia accounts for 20% of cases of amenorrhea. Prolactin inhibits GnRH release from the hypothalamus Drugs that may cause hyperprolactinaemia: 1). Phenothiazines 2). Methyldopa 3). Cimetidine 4). Butyrophenones 5). Antihistamines
THE ASSESSMENT HISTORY EXAMINATION INVESTIGATIONS
ASSESSMENT The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea in reproductive age women is pregnancy and this should always be excluded by physical exam and laboratory testing for the pregnancy hormone - HCG.
History A good history can reveal the etiologic diagnosis in up to 85% of cases of amenorrhea. ASSESSMENT
Hot flashes , decreased libido  premature menopause Certain medications Weight change  A large amount of weight loss (anorexia nervosa) Associate symptoms - Cushing's disease , hypothyroidism Contraception Previous gynaecological surgery CLINICAL ASSESSMENT - HISTORY - ASK ABOUT Menstrual cycle  age of menarche and previous menstrual history Previous pregnancies - severe PPH (Sheehan’s syndrome) Chronic illness
Secondary sexual characteristic Features of Turner’s syndrome ANDROGEN EXCESS  hirsuitism (PCOS) – virilization (tumour) Abdominal (haemato mera) and pelvic masses (ovarian tumour) Breast examination  may revealed galactorrhea, Inspection of genitalia  imperforate hymen, cervical stenosis CLINICAL ASSESSMENT - EXAMINATION - CHECK FOR BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)  weight loss-related amenorrhea BLOOD PRESSURE  elevated in Cushing and PCOS Vaginal examination  blind vagina, vaginal atresia, absent of uterus
If the history and physical exam are suggestive of a certain etiology The workup can sometimes be more directed CLINICAL ASSESSMENT - INVESTIGATIONS -
Some patients will not demonstrate any obvious etiology for their amenorrhea on history and physical examination These patients can be worked up in a logical manner using a stepwise approach. CLINICAL ASSESSMENT - INVESTIGATIONS -
BLOOD TESTS ULTRASOUND CT scan of pituitary KAROTYPING LAPAROSCOPY INVESTIGATING PRIMARY AMENORRHEA
INVESTIGATING PRIMARY AMENORRHEA FSH, LH, estardiol – normal PCT – negative Examination – imperforate hymen Imperforate hymen GENITAL TRACT PCT – negative Karyotyping – 46 XY Absent uterus (Testicular feminization) MULLERIAN TRACT FSH and LH – High Estradiol – Low Karyotype – 45 XO Gonadal dygenesis (Turner’s syndrome) OVARY Prolactin – High FSH, LH and estradiol - Low Pituitary adenoma PITUITARY FSH, LH and estradiol - Low Hypothalamic-hypogonadism HYPOTHALAMUS INVESTIGATIONS DIAGNOSIS SITE OF DISORDER
Primary amenorrhea vagina no yes congenital uterovaginal agenesis imperforate hymen complete transverse vaginal septum Pubic hair Estrogenized breasts have developed Progesterone challenge abnormal ovaries abnormal hormonal stimulation of normal ovaries (Hypothalamic-hypogonadism) FSH Level Chromosome Analysis no no yes complete androgen insensitivity syndrome + - high low
INVESTIGATING SECONDARY AMENORRHEA The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea in reproductive age women is pregnancy and this should always be excluded by physical exam and laboratory testing for the pregnancy hormone - HCG.
Progesterone challenge test TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) FSH, LH Prolactin level INVESTIGATING SECONDARY AMENORRHEA Once pregnancy has been excluded
FSH, LH and Thyroid function test Progesterone challenge test WITHDRAWAL BLEEDING NO WITHDRAWAL BLEEDING HYPOESTROGENIC COMPROMISED OUTFLOW TRACT Negative E-P challenge test Normal FSH Asherman’s syndrome (HSG or hysteroscopy) Normal or Low FSH Ovarian Failure Hypothalamic-pituitary failure ANOVULATION Positive E-P challenge test Very high FSH FSH normal + high LH  PCOS High prolactin  pituitary tumour NEGATIVE PREGNANCY TEST INVESTIGATING SECONDAY AMENORRHEA
Ovarian failure (premature menopause) chromosomal anomalies autoimmune disease If the woman is under 30, a karyotype should be performed to rule out any mosaicism involving a Y chromosome. it is prudent to screen for thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal dysfunction If a Y chromosome is found the gonads should be surgically excised. Laboratory evidence of autoimmune phenomenon is much more prevalent than clinically significant disease SECONADARY AMENORRHEA
Hypothalamic-pituitary failure Patients who do not bleed after the progestin challenge But do bleed after estrogen/progestin and Have normal or low FSH and LH levels SECONDARY AMENORRHEA
INVESTIGATING SECONDARY AMENORRHEA PCT – negative HSG / Hystereoscopy Asherman’s syndrome MULLERIAN TRACT FSH, LH – high ; E 2 – low FSH – Normal ; LH - High Premature menopause PCOS OVARY TSH – raised ; T4 – low or N Hypothyroidism ENDOCRINE Prolactin – High FSH, LH and estradiol – Low FSH, LH and estrogen - Low Pituitary adenoma Sheehan syndrome PITUITARY FSH, LH and estradiol - Low Hypothalamic – failure Weight-related amenorrhea HYPOTHALAMUS INVESTIGATIONS DIAGNOSIS SITE OF DISORDER
TREATMENT OF AMENORRHEA The need for treatment depends on Underlying causes Need for regular periods Trying to conceive (fertility Need for contraception)
TREATMENT OF AMENORRHEA Underlying causes PITUITARY TUMOUR  Bromocryptine / Surgery ANDROGEN producing tumour of ovary  Surgery TESTICULAR FEMINIZATION  removed gonad + HRT TURNER’S syndrome  HRT IMPERFORATE HYMEN  surgical incision THYROID disease – appropriate medical treatment EATING DISORDERS  referred to psychiatrist PCOS  appropriate treatment ASHERMAN’s syndrome  breaking down adhesion + insert IUCD
TREATMENT OF AMENORRHEA TRYING TO CONCEIVE The prognosis for women with confirmed ovarian failure is poor. ANOVULATION  response well with ovulation induction treatment PCOS  ovulation may resume with weight reduction – fertility drugs - use of gonadotrophins or ovarian drilling. HYPERPROLACTINAEMIA  respond to treatment with dopamine agonist. HYPOTHALAMIC DYSFUNCTION  maintenance of normal weight and change of lifestyle ASHERMAN’S syndrome  breaking down adhesion + insert IUCD
TREATMENT OF AMENORRHEA WANT REGULAR PERIOD The use of 1): COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE 2): HRT NEED CONTRACEPTION Confirmed ovarian failure will not required contraception Women requiring contraception  oral contraceptives are method of choice
AMENORRHEA THANK YOU PROF DR MOHD AZHAR