What is the Origin of Female Amenorrhea?

The term is derived from the Greek roots a- (negative prefix, meaning "without"), men (month), and rhoia (flow), literally translating to "without monthly flow." It is a foundational diagnostic term in gynecology and reproductive endocrinology, signifying a disruption of the normal cyclical hormonal cascade. The clinical classification into primary and secondary types facilitates a systematic and tiered diagnostic approach for clinicians.

What is the Mechanism of Female Amenorrhea?

The cessation of menses is fundamentally caused by a disruption at any level of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis, which governs the reproductive cycle. Potential mechanisms include hypothalamic dysfunction due to excessive stress or low energy availability, pituitary disorders affecting FSH and LH release, ovarian failure leading to estrogen deficiency, or anatomical obstructions preventing outflow. Hormonal imbalance, particularly insufficient estrogen and progesterone cycling, is the final common pathway leading to endometrial atrophy and lack of shedding.

Female Amenorrhea ∞ Area

Female Amenorrhea

Meaning

Female amenorrhea is defined clinically as the absence of menstruation, categorized either as primary, where a young woman has not begun menstruating by age 15, or secondary, where a woman with previously normal cycles ceases menstruation for three or more consecutive cycles. This condition is not a disease itself but a significant clinical sign of underlying endocrine, anatomical, or systemic dysfunction. Comprehensive evaluation is essential to identify the root cause, which often involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.