A woman’s menstrual cycle is usually an indicator on a woman’s stage of health. Not only is a menstrual cycle vital to a woman’s reproductive health, the condition is also one of the tell tale signs that give clues to a woman’s general health. As such, any problem that a woman may have with her menstrual cycle should be given prompt attention in order to treat the condition right away and to avoid worsening of the condition.

One of the problems that women face has something to do with her menstrual cycle, which is known as amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is a condition where there is total absence of a menstrual period during a woman’s reproductive stage. Reproductive age is considered as any age between the ages of 12 when a young girl first has her menstruation and 45, which is an age that is considered to be the last possible age wherein a woman can possibly get pregnant.

Classification of Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is classified into two classes: primary amenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea.

1)Primary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea is a condition where the menstrual cycle did not start at all. When a girl reaches the age of 16 without having a menstrual cycle, it means that she may be suffering from primary amenorrhea and needs to undergo immediate therapy. A common cause of primary amenorrhea is caused by developmental problems such as having a congenital absence of the uterus as well as the failure of the ovary to receive or maintain egg cells. Girls who suffer from primary amenorrhea normally exhibit an absence of sexual characteristics in young girls.

2)Secondary amenorrhea. This is a condition when the menstrual cycle starts but abruptly ceases some time later. This condition is mostly due to hormonal changes in the body such as disturbances in the hypothalamus and in the pituitary glands. In order to classify a condition as a form of secondary amenorrhea, there is an absence of menstrual cycle for at least three months after an otherwise regular menstrual cycle.

Treatments and Coping Mechanisms of Amenorrhea

The most common form of treatment is to have a strong support base from the family or from one’s partner. Such support is very vital in providing emotional support to a woman to help her overcome the problems associated with amenorrhea. In this aspect, support from family and friends is further augmented by counseling. Counseling is very vital in order to prevent a woman from suffering too much from the condition especially when a woman manifests signs of depression.

Another mode of treatment of amenorrhea is a surgical operation. This is true when a woman never had menstrual cycle in her life. Surgery is a good option for a woman to induce menstrual cycle. However, such treatment may not be necessary if there is no immediate threat to her health or for those who do not have plans to conceive biological children.