Amenorrhea is usually called the absence of menstruation for six months or more. Amenorrhea is not necessarily an independent disease, it can be a symptom of various pathologies of the reproductive system or a consequence of various neuroendocrine diseases, malignant and benign neoplasms.
According to the medical classification, the disease is divided into primary as well as secondary amenorrhea.
The primary amenorrhea is called a menarche delay, as well as other signs of normal sexual development under the age of 14 years, the absence of menstruation up to 16 years with normal signs of sexual development. Secondary amenorrhea - delayed menstruation for a period of more than 3 consecutive cycles (against the background of previous normal menstruation).
The main symptoms of amenorrhea are considered to be the absence of normal physiological menstruation and normal fertility, autonomic dysfunctions, androgen excess. Here, differential diagnosis is very important, which helps to determine that amenorrhea is present. Treatment is usually carried out in two stages. The first stage is the identification of specific causes of amenorrhea. The second stage is considered to be directly the selection of corrective measures.
Amenorrhea: treatment in practice
The choice of treatment option always depends on the accurate identification of etiological factors. As the main option for getting rid of almost all types of amenorrhea, long-term hormone therapy is indicated, the task of which is to stimulate the normal functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary system. Amenorrhea, the treatment of which is quite successful, usually goes without a trace. Especially when prescribing the following groups of drugs:
- which contain a synthetic hormone substitute for the follicular phase - estrogen (for example, Folliculin, Estrofem and Divigel - such drugs are indicated for women with disorders of the endocrine system, they can also be prescribed to girls with a delay in normal sexual development);
- drugs, which include a synthetic analogue of the hormone of the luteal phase - progesterone (for example, Norkolut, Dufaston and Utrozhestan - these drugs are used in the treatment of both primary and secondary amenorrhea);
- analogues of the polypeptide hormone of the hypothalamus - gonadoliberin (these hormones are called gonadotropin releasing hormones (GnRH), among them it is effective, for example, Cyclomat - this drug is recommended for women with polycystic ovaries, it induces the process of ovulation and helps a woman become pregnant); drugs of this group help well when secondary amenorrhea is detected, the treatment of which is the elimination of disorders in the functioning of the neuroendocrine system;
- combined estrogen- and gestagen-containing oral contraceptives (COCs), for example, Janine, Regulon, and Diane-35 (these drugs are recommended for polycystic ovary syndrome).
The duration of treatment with hormonal drugs always depends on the specific situation. In parallel with hormone therapy, homeopathic medicines, such as Remens, Klimadinon and Mastodinon, can also be prescribed. In more severe cases (as well as with the ineffectiveness of hormonal treatment), surgical surgical intervention may be indicated, it is prescribed strictly according to the indications of a specialist.