Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 40 No. 4, 2001.
Ostalo
What is the Health Risk Associated with Amenorrhea?
Milan Vrkljan
Marijo Brkić
Ana-Marija Zečević
Patricija Topić
Sažetak
Amenorrhea is one of the most common symptoms in the woman’s health pathology. It can be caused by anatomical defects of the outflow tract (uterus, cervix, vagina), thus being in the gynecologist’s domain, or can be observed in gonadal dysgenesis (Turner’s syndrome), hypopituitarism (Sheehan’s syndrome), prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, stress, anorexia nervosa, polycystic ovaries, and in women upon discontinuation of oral contraceptives, especially if they have a history of prior menstrual irregularities. Endocrine abnormalities may also be due to changes in target tissue responses to hormones. These disorders can occur by a variety of mechanisms. Endocrine glands may be injured or destroyed by neoplasia, infections, hemorrhage, autoimmune disorders, and many other causes. Menopause, pregnancy and lactation are the most common causes of ammenorrhea. Hypothalamic lesions resulting in impaired secretion of releasing hormones may manifest themselves by pituitary dysfunction, which in turn leads to functional abnormalities of its various target organs. Extraglandular disorders can result in hormone deficiency and become manifest with amenorrhea as one of the symptoms. Assessment of the patient’s endocrine status relies on the findings from the history, physical examination and laboratory testing. The latter can include measurement of hormone levels of their metabolites in plasma or urine either in basal state or in response to provocative testing. For endocrine deficiency syndromes, hormones are generally administered to counteract the deficiency. In hormone excess syndromes, a variety of approaches have been used. Hyperfunctioning tumors are removed when possible, and sometimes hyperplastic glands are extirpated. In other cases, drugs are given to block hormone production. Menopause related osteoporosis is the leading health problem associated with amenorrhea and should be treated as early as possible, i.e. from the beginning of the period of menses disappearance.
Ključne riječi
Amenorrhea, etiology; Amenorrhea, diagnosis; Amenorrhea, complications; Osteoporosis, etiology; Osteoporosis, prevention and control
Hrčak ID:
14884
URI
Datum izdavanja:
3.12.2001.
Posjeta: 2.462 *