![Diseases, Symptoms, tcm, [tcmwindow.com]](/uploadFile/adImg/2015/11/11/f5cbfcc0-4df5-4646-9b9a-f316651a0199.jpg)
Amenorrhea is a disorder that involves the menstrual cycle of a woman distinguished by the absence of any menstruation. This condition strikes about two percent to five percent of women in the many countries. It can indicate health problems for women who are not going through menopause or for women who are not pregnant.
There are two types of amenorrhea:
Primary Amenorrhea – This is a condition in which by the age of 16, a girl still hasn’t experienced any menses.
Secondary Amenorrhea – Women suffering from this type of condition has had at least one normal menstrual cycle. Thereafter, their menstruation has stopped for one reason or another. You may be considered to have secondary amenorrhea if your menses has ceased for a minimum of three months.
Factors that Can Cause Amenorrhea
-Poor nutrition
-Heart disease, nephritis, and tuberculosis
-Anemia, and problems with your ovaries, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland
-Stress
-Bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders
-Rapid gain or loss of weight
-Strenuous exercise
-Poor nutrition
-Heart disease, nephritis, and tuberculosis
-Anemia, and problems with your ovaries, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland
-Stress
-Bulimia, anorexia, and other eating disorders
-Rapid gain or loss of weight
-Strenuous exercise
Symptoms of Amenorrhea
The absence of menstruation is the most obvious sign of amenorrhea. Sometimes, though, this condition can be accompanied by other less-prominent symptoms such as:
The absence of menstruation is the most obvious sign of amenorrhea. Sometimes, though, this condition can be accompanied by other less-prominent symptoms such as:
-Change in sexual drive
-The development of facial hair
-Deeper voice
-Reduction in breast size
-Secretions from the breasts
-The development of facial hair
-Deeper voice
-Reduction in breast size
-Secretions from the breasts
Complications Associated with Amenorrhea
Listed below are some of the reproductive health complications that may arise from amenorrhea.
Listed below are some of the reproductive health complications that may arise from amenorrhea.
-PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome: this is a disease in which several cysts form over the ovaries
-Hirsutism: this condition arises when the pituitary gland secretes excess hormone
-Uterine fibroids: this condition causes the development of wart-like growths on the outside or inside the uterine wall
-Hirsutism: this condition arises when the pituitary gland secretes excess hormone
-Uterine fibroids: this condition causes the development of wart-like growths on the outside or inside the uterine wall
Treatments for Amenorrhea
The type of treatment to be used for amenorrhea depends on the factors that cause the condition.
The type of treatment to be used for amenorrhea depends on the factors that cause the condition.
Western Modes of Treatment (Allopathic Therapy)
-Stress reduction techniques: these help to normalize your menstrual cycle
-Counseling for the treatment of eating disorders
-Dietary therapy: this includes consuming more calories and fat changes to help improve estrogen production.
-Hormonal supplements such as HRT (hormone replacement therapy or birth control patches or pills. These supplements can lead to normal
-Stress reduction techniques: these help to normalize your menstrual cycle
-Counseling for the treatment of eating disorders
-Dietary therapy: this includes consuming more calories and fat changes to help improve estrogen production.
-Hormonal supplements such as HRT (hormone replacement therapy or birth control patches or pills. These supplements can lead to normal
menstruation by regulating the hormones.
Surgery to extract the fibroids or cysts causing amenorrhea
Surgery to extract the fibroids or cysts causing amenorrhea
Chinese Medicine for Amenorrhea
The Etiology and Pathology of Amenorrhea from the Viewpoint of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
The Etiology and Pathology of Amenorrhea from the Viewpoint of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
In TCM, amenorrhea is believed to be a complex pattern that can manifest in a woman, which can be categorized as either conditions of deficiency or excess. When a pattern of deficiency is seen, this means that the "blood" and essence of the patient are insufficient. No blood can be discharged when the ‘Sea of Blood’ is empty. In an "Excess" pattern, blockages have developed in the meridians or energy pathways of the body.
Deficiency Patterns
-Dryness of blood
-Yin depletion
-Deficiency of Blood and/or Qi
-Deficiency of Kidney or Liver Qi
-Yin depletion
-Deficiency of Blood and/or Qi
-Deficiency of Kidney or Liver Qi
Excess Patterns:
-Dampness
-Blockage caused by phlegm
-Qi stagnation
-Dampness
-Blockage caused by phlegm
-Qi stagnation
Amenorrhea can be resolved using several Chinese herbal formulas. If a pattern of deficiency is causing your condition, the herbal remedy to be used is meant to free and supplement the menstruation; if a pattern of excess is the culprit, the herbs used should free the menstruation by clearing the cause of the excess. If other type of illnesses is causing the amenorrhea, we first need to address the main cause of the illness before addressing the amenorrhea itself.