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Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea Overview

Amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding and may be primary or secondary.

  • Primary amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding and secondary sexual characteristics (for example, breast development and pubic hair) in a girl by age 14 years or the absence of menstrual bleeding with normal development of secondary sexual characteristics in a girl by age 16 years.


  • Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menstrual bleeding in a woman who had been menstruating but later stops menstruating for 3 or more months in the absence of pregnancy, lactation (the ability to breastfeed), cycle suppression with systemic hormonal contraceptive (birth control) pills, or menopause.
For a woman to have regular menstrual cycles, her hypothalamus, pituitary gland (see Anatomy of the Endocrine System), ovaries, and uterus should all be functioning normally. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH cause the ovaries to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are responsible for the cyclical changes in the endometrium (uterine lining), including menstruation. In addition, a woman’s genital tract should be free of any abnormalities to allow the passage of menstrual blood.



Next: Amenorrhea Causes »

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Bladder Control Problems?
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Norvartis P&G
Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information
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ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:

  • · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
  • · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
  • · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENABLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENABLEX affects you.


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Amenorrhea

Anorexia Nervosa »

Anorexia Nervosa Overview

Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness. You have a preoccupation with food and body image to the extreme: You don’t eat. Despite being underweight, you continue to try to lose weight. The syndrome is more common in women than in men, and most often begins between the ages of 13-30 years. The medical complications brought about by this psychiatric disorder can be severe. You may die.

Anorexia Nervosa Causes

A variety of psychological, genetic, biological, developmental, and societal factors may contribute to developing this syndrome. Anorexia nervosa may be encouraged because of our society's emphasis on thinness, especially in women.

  • You may have some genetic risk toward developing it.
  • Some evidence suggests differences in brain chemicals in those who develop anorexia.

Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms

  • With anorexia nervosa, you have an in...

Read the Anorexia Nervosa article »



Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Amenorrhea, Primary »

Primary amenorrhea is the failure of menses to occur by age 16 years, in the presence of normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics.

Read More on eMedicine »

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