OVERVIEW
This page is designed to organize content that is relevant to the topic of amenorrhea. This term is used often in medicine, and it is important that we become as familiar as possible with it.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
Before going any farther, let us make sure we clearly define the “medical problem”. Amenorrhea refers to ANY abnormal absence of menstruation. Many different processes can result in amenorrhea and the term itself is very NONSPECIFIC. Because of how general it is, before going any further, we should establish the two major types of amenorrhea.
- [glossary_exclude]Primary amenorrhea[/glossary_exclude]: this refers to amenorrhea in a patent that has NEVER menstruated.
- [glossary_exclude]Secondary amenorrhea[/glossary_exclude]: this refers to amenorrhea that occurs in patient that HAS HAD AT LEAST ONE menstrual period in the past.
Because the frameworks for thinking about primary and secondary amenorrhea differ, it is recommended to learn more about the SPECIFIC type of amenorrhea one is dealing with.
WHY MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AMENORRHEA?
This distinction is useful simply became a patient with secondary amenorrhea has proved that AT ONE POINT it was possible for them to menstruate (while the patient with primary amenorrhea has not).
Page Updated: 10.08.2016