Assessment of secondary amenorrhoea

Last reviewed: February 2020

Last updated: December 2018

Summary

Amenorrhoea is the transient or permanent absence of menstrual flow. There is no consensus on the definition of amenorrhoea, but it may be subdivided into primary and secondary presentations relative to menarche as follows:[1]

Primary amenorrhoea: lack of menses by age 15 years in a patient with appropriate development of secondary sexual characteristics, or absent menses by age 13 years and no other pubertal maturation
Secondary amenorrhoea: lack of menses in a non-pregnant female for at least 3 cycles of her previous interval, or lack of menses for 6 months in a patient who was previously menstruating.

Although attributes overlap between the two groups, the diagnostic approaches vary significantly.

The prevalence of amenorrhoea is about 3% in women who have previously had regular menstrual periods. The prevalence is higher in college students (3% to 5%), competitive endurance athletes (5% to 60%), and ballet dancers (19% to 44%).[2] The prevalence of primary amenorrhoea in the US is <0.1%, compared with 3% to 4% for secondary amenorrhoea.[3][4][5]

Despite the low prevalence of secondary amenorrhoea, a prompt, comprehensive assessment is warranted unless the patient is pregnant, lactating, or using hormonal contraceptives, as amenorrhoea is often the presenting sign of an underlying reproductive disorder. A delay in diagnosis and treatment may adversely impact the future of such patients. For example, in polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperinsulinaemia, behavioural and dietary modifications may prevent subsequent cardiovascular disease.