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Amenorrhea Causes

Amenorrhea can result because of an abnormality in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, anatomical abnormalities of the genital tract, or functional causes.

Hypothalamic causes

• Craniopharyngioma (a brain tumor near the pituitary gland)



• Teratoma (a tumor made up of a mixture of tissues)



• Sarcoidosis (a chronic disease of unknown cause characterized by the formation of nodules in different parts of the body)



• Kallmann syndrome (deficiency of gonadotropins, which are hormones capable of promoting growth and function of reproductive organs)  



• Nutritional deficiency



• Low body weight

• Prolactinemia (high blood levels of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates secretion of milk from the breasts during breastfeeding) - Possibly caused by prolactinoma (a tumor of the pituitary gland secreting the hormone prolactin)



• Other pituitary tumors (for example, Cushing syndrome, acromegaly, or thyroid-stimulating hormone)



• Postpartum pituitary necrosis (death of pituitary cells after a woman delivers a baby)



• Autoimmune hypophysitis (cells of the pituitary gland destroyed by the body’s own defense system)



• Pituitary radiation



• Sarcoidosis  

• Anovulation (lack of the release of an egg)



• Hyperandrogenemia (high blood levels of male hormones)



• Polycystic ovary syndrome (hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age)



• Premature ovarian failure



• Turner syndrome (a genetic disorder characterized by underdeveloped ovaries, absence of menstrual onset, and short stature)



• Pure gonadal dysgenesis (defective development of the ovary)



• Autoimmune oophoritis (cells of the ovaries destroyed by the body’s own defense system)



• Fragile X premutation



• Radiation or chemotherapy



• Galactosemia (an inherited disorder in which galactose, a type of sugar, accumulates in the blood)



• Anatomical abnormalities of the genital tract



• Intrauterine adhesions (the opposing surfaces of the uterine cavity stick together)



• Imperforate hymen (a hymen in which there is no opening, the membrane completely closes off the vagina)



• Transverse vaginal septum (a dividing wall or membrane in the vagina)



• Aplasia (absence of an organ or tissue) of the vagina, the cervix, or the uterus 

• Anorexia/bulimia



• Chronic diseases (for example, tuberculosis)



• Excessive weight gain or weight loss



• Malnutrition



• Depression or other psychiatric disorders



• Recreational drug abuse



• Psychotropic drug use (drugs prescribed to stabilize or improve mood, mental status, or behavior)



• Excessive stress



• Excessive exercise



• Cycle suppression with systemic hormonal contraceptive (birth control) pills