All About Amenorrhea - Women Health

Monday, March 28, 2011

Post Pill Amenorrhea - Why Won't My Period Start After Stopping Birth Control Pills?

When you've stopped using birth control pills because you've decided to try for a baby and your period does not resume its normal cycle, it can be very frustrating. This is a common problem for couples trying to conceive. Post pill amenorrhea is the absence of a menstrual period for three months or more after stopping birth control pills.

Most women who experience this start to wonder what is wrong with their bodies. The source of this problem lies with the hormones in a woman's body.

Birth control pills suppress the pituitary gland's production of the hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). These hormones help stimulate the follicles in the ovaries to develop. As the follicles grow, they produce estrogen. After they release an egg, they produce progesterone.

Birth control pills contain estrogen and progesterone. If a woman is taking birth control pills, her body will believe that she is ovulating because of the estrogen and progesterone in the medication. Her pituitary gland will stop producing FSH and LH. Without these two hormones, ovulation does not occur and it is close to impossible to become pregnant (there is always a very small chance that birth control pills may not work for certain women).

After taking birth control pills for a length of time, the pituitary gland may continue to believe that there is a sufficient amount of estrogen and progesterone even after the medication is stopped. This causes her body not to ovulate and subsequently not return to a normal menstrual cycle. This absence of a normal cycle can be the complete absence of a period or irregular periods.

If you are experiencing this, you may be wondering just how long this amenorrhea will last. Most women's cycles return to normal within three to six months. Some women may have to wait up to two years for a normal cycle to return. Although it may sound like you won't get pregnant during the time you are waiting for your period to return, it is possible to get pregnant before the return of your period. It is impossible to predict if a woman will ovulate first or if her period will return first.

What can you do if you are tired of waiting and what to jump start things? Go see your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe clomiphene citrate to stimulate your pituitary gland to produce FSH and LH. Although clomiphene citrate is a medication often prescribed, there are other medications available that your doctor may prescribe.

Clomiphene citrate blocks the estrogen receptors in the uterus. This tells your pituitary gland that there is no estrogen and that your body is not producing a mature follicle. The pituitary then produces FSH. The FSH in your body causes the follicles to grow and produce progesterone when one ruptures. The estrogen tells the lining of your uterus to grow so that a potential embryo will have what it needs to survive. If the egg that is released is not fertilized, the lining of your uterus will shed and you will have your period.

If you have stopped birth control pills and have not had a regular cycle or if your doctor has diagnosed you with post pill amenorrhea, don't worry. You aren't the only one going through this. Many women experience this.

Kathryn Sacane has been trying to conceive since August 2007 and has researched extensively about fertility and pregnancy. If you appreciated this article, please visit WantToBeAMommy.com for more information on about getting pregnant.

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Sept. 18- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Fertility Herbal Supplements - Natural Treatment For Amenorrhea & Irregular Periods
By Bruce Maul

There are pros and cons to an irregular menstrual cycle. For one, the absence of ovulation for a few months up to a year becomes an inherent form of birth control. But then again in the upkeep of female reproductive health, any instance of failed menstruation in women-called Amenorrhea in the medical jargon-should be treated accordingly, not just for pro-creative ends but also in the purpose of sustaining general female health. Amenorrhea affects around 1% of women in their reproductive age and while the condition is a major cause for infertility, prolonged amenorrhea could trigger the irregular thickening of the uterus lining that sets the stage for endometrial cancer.

Doctors usually prescribe the intake of contraceptives to regularize menstruation. True enough, birth control pills work to induce menstruation but the side effects of binge eating, sluggishness, mood disorders and weight gain often persuade many to discontinue its use. Moreover, critics maintain that while contraceptives do promote monthly bleeding, this does not actually qualify as menstruation. So that leaves affected women with two options. One would be to dabble with the risks of hormone treatments and fertility medications or perhaps take the alternative route and use herbal supplements to restore reproductive health.

A number of herbal remedies have been widely administered since the ancient times to enhance sexual functioning and treat infertility. To this day, the potency of these natural remedies has not lost its efficacy despite the influx of its pharmaceutical counterparts.

Chaste Berry is a widely accepted herbal remedy that stimulates the release of LH and FSH or the hormones vital to ovulation and menstruation. Another herb that enhances hormone functioning is Black Cohosh, a natural remedy prescribed by herbalists to prevent miscarriage. Regulating the menstrual cycle on the other hand is among the many medicinal properties of the Siberian Ginseng, a revered Chinese tonic that promotes energy and enhances overall systemic functioning.

Using the extracts of traditional fertility herbal remedies that are expertly combined in a therapeutic solution of primary and support herbs, modern day herbalists have concocted fertility herbal supplements intended to treat various sexual disorders ranging from the loss of libido, hormonal imbalance as well as failed ovulation leading to amenorrhea. Now these treatments won't trigger the side effects typical with contraceptives nor cause multiple births in case continued herbal supplement use concludes with a successful pregnancy.

Get natural remedies for amenorrhea today! Not just for the sake of regulating menstruation but to guarantee a woman's overall reproductive health as well.

Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed, Herbal Remedies and other health related products. Learn more about Herbal Remedies by visiting http://www.myherbalremedystore.com

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Sept. 09- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Amenorrhea - What Does Not Having a Menstrual Cycle Mean?
By Dr. Kathleen Albertson, PhD

Recommended Reading
Pain Free Periods In 60 Days
Natural Healing To Eliminate Feminine Reproductive Issues
Including Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Painful Cramps & Endometriosis.

"A" in Greek is the word for "negative," "men" is the word for "month" and "rhea" refers to "flow." Amenorrhea means "no menstrual flow" (absence of menstruation). In Chinese medicine, it refers to "no moon."
Rudyard Kipling said, "East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet." Today it is more important than ever to understand TCM (Traditional Chinese medicine which includes acupuncture and herbal medicine) as well as Western medicine. Today's reality integrates these two schools of thought to improve patient care. TCM gets to the root cause naturally with out the harsh affects of drugs.
We know that gynecology in China goes back as far as the early 1500 BC. Gynecologists were called "breast doctors" who treated diseases "under the skirt." By taking advantage of this ancient, successful medicine, we resolve many gynecological health problems at its source, earlier in the woman's reproductive life, and perhaps bearing her from a lifetime of medications, infertility, or lack of hope.
For most women TCM is not sought as the first line of medical resolution. They seek out acupuncture and herbal medicine when all else fails; when they are the middle of fertility procedures, or when someone recommends TCM to them. We owe it to the women in our lives to recommend TCM for this condition. It is normal for menstruation to cease during pregnancy and breast-feeding. So, unless it is a structural or congenital health problem TCM provides solutions and restores your health.
Failure to menstruate may cause the uterine lining to thicken putting you at risk for cancers.
Definitions
Primary amenorrhea A young woman has reached the age of 16 (in some texts 18) and has not begun menstruating. Oligomenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea A woman who has started menses but has missed menstrual cycles for three consecutive months.
Secondary amenorrhea often occurs with extreme exercise such as long-distance running. Typically, leaner women have higher levels of protein which affect estrogen; therefore, less free estrogen is available to stimulate the reproductive cycle properly. Other specific causes include stress, nutritional inadequacies, hormonal imbalances, tumors, intrauterine infection, endometriosis, discontinuation of oral contraceptives, diseases such as diabetes mellitus or tuberculosis, anorexia nervosa, or obesity. In hypergonadotropin amenorrhea, high gonadotropin â"EUR any of several hormones that stimulate the growth and activity of the gonads, especially follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) â"EUR and low estrogen levels create symptoms similar to those of menopause: atrophy of the reproductive organs, hot flashes, irritability and other changes. The patient may experience internal sensations of heat, thirst, irritability, low back pain, vaginal dryness or dryness of the eyes. This type is affiliated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or premature ovarian failure (POF).
TCM looks to: • overwork, • emotional and physical stress, • poor diet, • or constitutional weakness
that creates deficiencies of Qi, Blood, Essence or Liver Blood. The Blood "fails to arrive" (menstruation) and becomes stagnant. Emotional stress, excessive physical work or overwork, poor nutritional choices, anger, sadness, anxiety and worry in today's busy world are common culprits leading to these disorders. Many women feel that they have busy lives, but handle the stress well. Many don't realize the imbalance this causes, many are reluctant to admit it, and many don't perceive it as a disorder.
Other symptoms may include menses that stops after several months with decreasing volume of blood. Fatigue, anxiety or depression, or insomnia are also common symptoms.
Some women may experience: • Poor appetite. • Bloating. • Loose stools. • Constipation.
A woman may either express cold hands and feet, or heat sensations at night. Other women may experience secondary amenorrhea with the cycle lengthening gradually developing to amenorrhea accompanied by foggy thinking, obesity, or excessive vaginal discharge. These are imbalances that all can be treated with TCM. Your practitioner will determine which organ systems are the cause of your problems and create a treatment protocol specifically for you.
TCM is underutilized and under valued as a primary resource for resolving your health problems. Educate yourself, your mother, sisters, daughters, and friends on the true importance of achieving optimum health naturally. This includes TCM. Integration of Western and Eastern medicine fosters the best medical care.
Kathie is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, author, and nutritionist in practice for over 15 years.
Dr. Kathleen Albertson, L. Ac. PhD, Holistic Nutrition (949)-861-8901 http://www.orangecountyacupuncture.com Author of "Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women's Health: Bridging the Gap Between Western and Eastern Medicine."
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Sept. 01- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Amenorrhea - A Natural Treatment Checklist
By Robert Rister

Recommended Reading
Pain Free Periods In 60 Days
Natural Healing To Eliminate Feminine Reproductive Issues
Including Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Painful Cramps & Endometriosis.

Here are some key concepts for coping with amenorrhea, written from a holistic health perspective. Any of these considerations might make the critical difference in re-establishing normal periods.
Sexually active heterosexual women who miss their periods may be pregnant. When appropriate, a pregnancy test should always be performed before extensive medical examination to determine the cause of amenorrhea.
Women who have amenorrhea should limit their consumption of caffeinated coffee to 1-2 cups per day. Caffeine can contribute to osteoporosis.
Heavy use of marijuana interferes with estrogen and progesterone production and can cause amenorrhea.
Vaginal dryness is an indication of low estrogen production, but the frequently recommended soy isoflavones, red clover, and black cohosh are not appropriate. Flax seed (not flaxseed oil) may be more helpful, when taken for 3 to 4 months.
A hallmark of overexercise is the willingness to exercise even when exhausted, injured, or ill. Exercise under these circumstances is anxiety driven and should be reassessed.
Delayed puberty can be a sign of thyroid dysfunction. Girls who have not had their first period by age 14 should be referred to a health provider for diagnosis and advice.
Amenorrhea with unusual hair growth is a symptom of polycystic ovarian disease (POD), and unusual hair growth in women athletes is a strong indicator of the condition. Treatments for POD overlap those for type 2 diabetes (see Polycystic Ovarian Disease).
Drugs to limit menstruation to once or several times a year will in themselves do little to enhance athletic performance, since muscle strength is more or less constant during all phases of a woman's menstrual cycle.
Women who need to reduce calorie consumption to meet the requirements of their sport should eat more high-fiber foods before trying to reduce carbs, fats, or proteins. Heavy exercise reduces the body's sensitivity to the hormone cholecystokinin, but high-fiber foods, particularly oat bran, increase the production of the hormone and relieve hunger.
Read Understanding Amenorrhea and Natural Therapies: Amenorrhea. Robert Rister is the author or co-author of nine books and over 2,000 articles on natural health.

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Monday, August 23, 2010

August 24- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Cortisol and Amenorrhea - Why Stress Causes You to Stop Having a Monthly Menstrual Cycle
By Dr. Chase Hayden, D.C. QN

Recommended Reading
Pain Free Periods In 60 Days
Natural Healing To Eliminate Feminine Reproductive Issues
Including Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Painful Cramps & Endometriosis.

Throughout a female's life, she will experience many hormonal changes. The earliest transition comes between childhood and adolescence. On average, a girl begins menstruating around the age of 12. In some cases the menstrual cycle can begin as early as 8 or as late as 16. If a female has not started her menstrual cycle by the age of 16 she is often diagnosed with primary amenorrhea. Amenorrhea occurs when the levels of female reproductive hormones are not sufficient to stimulate menstruation. The most common causes of secondary amenorrhea include malnutrition, over-exercising, stress and breast feeding.
Malnutrition can come in varying degrees. When a girl is anorexic (refuses to eat for fear of gaining weight or losing her figure) or bulimic (eats and then induces vomiting for fear of gaining weight or losing her figure) she will often delay the onset of her menstrual cycle, or lose it once it has started. Girls that have a diet lacking the essential amino acids and fats can also be more likely to develop secondary amenorrhea. This is often the case with vegetarian female athletes. A well rounded diet, with plenty of whole food sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and healthy fats will often return the amenorrheic woman to where she needs to be.
Mild to moderate exercise is a great way to maintain optimal health and wellness. Exercise increases the metabolism, assists in weight management, improves mental clarity, as well as many other great things. Intensive or excessive exercise can lead to hormonal imbalance in both men and women. Exercise creates stress on our organs, muscles, and joints because it involves work. This "good" stress can be beneficial but in excess, it creates a rise in the stress regulating hormone called cortisol. As the hormone cortisol increases in our body continually, sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decrease. When these hormones are out of balance, many of the symptoms associated with women's health present. These include PMS, weight gain, acne, abnormal menstrual cycles, hot flashes, mood swings, bone loss, osteoporosis, infertility and more.
Increasing cortisol is the body's response to any stressful situation. As noted above, intensive or excessive exercise can induce chronic stress in a woman's body, leading to imbalances between cortisol and other health sustaining hormones. Chronic stress in any form will act similarly in a woman's body. Stress comes in all shapes and sizes through physical, chemical, and emotional means.
Some examples in everyday life include: financial pressure, work assignments, death in the family, children leaving home for school, marriage, poor diet, auto accidents, chemical irritants, etc. The stress regulators in our body respond similarly to all of the stressors listed above. No matter the source of stress, the human body's response to stress is to release cortisol, and chronic release of cortisol in the body leads to imbalance of hormones, which lead to symptoms. These symptoms are good for us, and should not be covered up because they warn us that we are no longer in balance.
Dr. Chase Hayden, DC, QN is a holistic doctor that incorporates applied kinesiology, quantum neurology rehabilitation, and functional nutrition in his practice. He is the owner of The Hayden Institute in Houston, TX where the majority of his general practice are women seeking the relief of PMS, menopause, infertility, and other female related symptoms through alternative approaches. He is happily married and currently has two children. For more information regarding Dr. Chase Hayden and his services, please visit http://www.DrChaseHayden.com

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

August 16- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Amenorrhea - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By Juliet Cohen

Recommended Reading
Pain Free Periods In 60 Days
Natural Healing To Eliminate Feminine Reproductive Issues
Including Fibroids, Ovarian Cysts, Painful Cramps & Endometriosis.

Amenorrhea is absence of menstruation. Amenorrhea is a normal feature in prepubertal, pregnant, and postmenopausal females. Amenorrhea can be caused by any number of changes in the organs, glands, and hormones involved in menstruation. Stress due to internal or situational concerns can cause secondary amenorrhea, because stress interferes with the brain's control (through hormones) of the ovaries. Amenorrhea may be classified as primary or secondary. primary amenorrhea - from the beginning and usually lifelong; menstruation never begins at puberty. Primary amenorrhea is defined as the failure of menses to occur by age 16 years. Secondary amenorrhea - due to some physical cause and usually of later onset; a condition in which menstrual periods which were at one time normal and regular become increasing abnormal and irregular or absent. Secondary amenorrhea is defined as the cessation of menses once they have begun. This problem is seen in about 1% of women of reproductive age. Amenorrhea occurs if the hypothalamus and pituitary fail to provide appropriate gonadotropin stimulation to the ovary, resulting in inadequate production of estradiol or in failure of ovulation and progesterone production. Amenorrhea can also occur if the ovaries fail to produce adequate amounts of estradiol despite normal and appropriate gonadotropin stimulation by the hypothalamus and pituitary. Chronic conditions (eg, starvation, excessive exercise, depression, psychological stress, marijuana use, Crohn disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, thalassemia major, HIV infection, renal disease, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, anorexia nervosa)

Physiologic states of amenorrhoea are seen during pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding). The hypothalamus is the initiator of the follicular phase. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pump located in the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a pulsatile fashion into the portal vessel system surrounding the anterior pituitary gland. GnRH interacts with the anterior pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the follicular phase. FSH is secreted into the circulation and interacts with the granulosa cells surrounding the developing oocytes. As levels of progesterone, estradiol, and inhibin decline 2-3 days before menses, the hypothalamus begins to release higher levels of FSH, which recruits oocytes for the next menstrual cycle. As FSH increases during the early portion of the follicular phase, it interacts with granulosa cells to stimulate the aromatization of androgens into estradiol. Early in the follicular phase, both estradiol and FSH increase the FSH-receptor content of the developing follicles. Over the next several days, the steady increase of estradiol (E2) levels exerts a progressively greater suppressive influence on pituitary FSH release. Only one selected lead follicle, with the largest reservoir of estrogen, can withstand the declining FSH environment. The remaining oocytes that initially were recruited with the lead follicle undergo atresia. Immediately prior to ovulation, the combination of E2 and FSH leads to the production of luteinizing-hormone (LH) receptors on the granulosa cells surrounding the lead follicle.

Hormonal contraceptives that contain only progestogen like the oral contraceptive Circulating estradiol stimulates growth of the endometrium. Progesterone, produced by the corpus luteum formed after ovulation, transforms proliferating endometrium into secretory endometrium. During the late follicular phase, estrogen positively influences LH secretion, instead of suppressing pituitary LH secretion as it does early in the follicular phase. To have this positive effect, the E2 level must achieve a sustained elevation for several days. The LH surge promotes maturation of the dominant oocyte, the release of the oocyte and then the luteinization of the granulosa cells and the surrounding theca cells of the dominant follicle resulting in progesterone production. The appropriate level of progesterone arising from the maturing dominant follicle contributes to the precise timing of the mid-cycle surge of LH. E2 promotes uterine endometrial gland growth, which allows for future implantation. Other signs or symptoms along with the absence of periods, such as milky nipple discharge, headache, vision changes, or excessive hair growth on your face and torso (hirsutism).

Treatments of Amenorrhea based on the condition. Medical care needs are defined by the etiology of the menstrual cycle disturbance and the desires of the patient. Progesterone supplements (hormone treatment). Gonadotropin therapy or the use of pulsatile GnRH therapy is required to induce ovulation for patients with infertility whose underlying pathology cannot be reversed. Dopamine agonists are effective in treating hyperprolactinemia. Oral contraceptives (ovulation inhibitors). Dietary modifications (to include increased caloric and fat intake). Hormone replacement therapy is required to maintain bone density in patients whose underlying pathology cannot be reversed to restore normal endocrine function. In most cases, physicians will induce menstruation in non-pregnant females who have missed two or more consecutive menstrual periods, because of the danger posed to the uterus if the non-fertilized egg and endometrium lining are not expelled. Without this monthly expulsion, the risk of uterine cancer increases.Women with evidence of hyperandrogenism and disordered menses have many other medical issues that must be addressed. Specific treatment for amenorrhea is your opinion or preference and expectations for the course of the condition.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for health care clinic and home remedies. She also writes articles on beauty tips.

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Sunday, August 8, 2010

August 09- 2010 All About Amenorrhea Articles

Amenorrhea III - How to Treat and Prevent Amenorrhea With Foods
By Kyle J Norton

Amenorrhea is defined as delay of menstruation. There are 2 types of amenrrhea:

a) Primary amenorrhea is defined as no period by age 16 and
b) Secondary amenrrhea is defined as period begins at the appropriate age, but later stops for more than 3 cycles or 6 months. Women who had a delay of period used to think that may be pregnant. In fact, there are many causes of amenorrhea. In this article, we will discuss how to treat amenorrhea with foods.

1. Whole grain

Whole grain contains high amounts of fiber that help to remove toxins from our body and indirectly strengthens liver function, which helps to maintain the levels of estrogened resulting in lowered xenoestrogen in our body.

2. Celery seed

Celery seed contains high amounts of butylidene-phthalide which helps to balance woman's natural hormones and reduce emotional stress causing irregular hormone production by cleansing toxins from the liver as well as improving reproduction of red blood cells caused by liver malfunction.

3. Soy

Soy contains high amounts of isoflavones which helps to balance your body's estrogen levels as well as binding the xenoestrogen causing breast cancer and tumors. Soy raises the levels of estrogen if it is too low and lowers levels of estrogen if it is too high.

4. Yogurt

Yogurt contains lactobacillus bacteria that helps to lower incidence of breast cancer as well as preventing the re-absorption of xenoestrogen and enhancing immune effects.

5. Legumes

Legumes and other protein rich food contains high amounts of coumestans that helps to improve metabolism of estrogen in the liver. It also helps to maintain levels of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids as well as cleansing the bad cholesterol in our body, improving blood flow.

6. Sesame seed

Besides containing proteins that are necessary for improving metabolism of estrogen levels in the liver, sesame seed contains lignans that helps to increase levels of phyto-estrogen and reducing the production of estrogen converting into xenoestrogen wich causes breast cancer and amenorrhea.

7. Potato

Potato contains high amounts of steroidial saponins that helps to block the over-production of estrogen by increasing levels of phyto-estrogen, the element which is necessary for normalizing menstrual cycle.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information of insurance or series of articles of the above subject at my home page at:

http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com

http://lifeanddisabitityinsuranceunderwriter.blogspot.com/

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have all the links intact. "Let Take Care Your Health, Your Health Will Take Care You" Kyle J. Norton I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries.

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