Health A-Z

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Harvard Medical School

Amenorrhea

Treatment

Primary amenorrhea caused by late puberty usually does not need to be treated because the condition will go away on its own. For primary amenorrhea caused by certain genetic (inherited) abnormalities, treatment depends on the problem. For example, if a genetic defect prevents the ovaries from functioning properly, a young girl may be given supplemental ovarian hormones to allow her to develop normal secondary sex characteristics (breast development, pubic hair) and to prevent osteoporosis (bone-thinning disease), which can be caused by low estrogen levels. If amenorrhea is caused by a structural problem, such as a vagina that is an unusual shape or doesn't have an opening, surgery is usually necessary.

If you have secondary amenorrhea due to menopause or a hysterectomy, your doctor will prescribe medications to prevent osteoporosis and other complications of low estrogen levels. For other forms of secondary amenorrhea, the type of treatment depends on the cause:

• Stress—If emotional stress is the problem, your doctor may advise you to enroll in a stress-management course.

• Obesity—If obesity is triggering the condition, your doctor will outline a diet and exercise program aimed at helping you lose weight and improve overall fitness.

• Excessive athletic training—If strenuous training is interrupting your menstrual cycle, your doctor will recommend a more moderate program. This will help normal menstruation to start again. It also will also decrease your risk of conditions related to low levels of estrogen, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, infertility and thinning of the tissues lining the vagina.

• Hormone imbalance— If altered hormone levels are preventing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary), your doctor may prescribe supplemental hormones.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome – Multiple medical treatments are available to help regulate menstrual periods, such as metformin and cyclical use of female hormones.

• Tumors in the ovaries, uterus or pituitary gland— If cysts or tumors are causing amenorrhea, treatment depends on their type and location. Surgery is sometimes necessary.