No periods, Absent Periods or Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstruation in a premenopausal woman (prior to menopause). Sometimes Amenorrhea can be misdiagnosed as PCO or PCOS. If no menstruation occurs by age 16, it is called “primary amenorrhea.” Whereas “secondary amenorrhea” is the stoppage of menstruation for more than three months when there is no confirmed pregnancy, menopause, or breast feeding involved. Secondary amenorrhea can be caused by various conditions, for example; Pituitary or hypothalamic disorders, Premature menopause, diabetes mellitus, nutritional disorders, Thyroid disorders, Stress or Psychological disorders. Two of the most commonly seen Amenorrhoea in clinic are often disregarded, including; Amenorrhea following long term oral contraceptive pill and second, Amenorrhea stemming from excessive physical exercise, dietary restriction, and sports (1).
Post Pill Amenorrhea
Persistent amenorrhea, an uncommon sequela of oral contraceptive use, would not be a major problem except for the fact that an estimated 50 million women worldwide use oral contraceptives. The result of a disruption of the normal hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian feeding mechanism, which may be reversible with appropriate treatment (2). Typical treatment can include clomiphene or Letrozole which aid in ovulation induction for those trying to conceive.
For some women the side effects of taking medication such as climid include; abnormal vaginal bleeding, headache, breast discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. Since it acts as an antiestrogen, Clomid can also cause thickening of the cervical mucus, which can actually reduce the chances of pregnancy. It’s important not to consider Clomid as a cure-all for every woman who desires to become pregnant. Most doctors advocate investigating the reasons why a woman is not conceiving is important before considering clomid, since it is not appropriate for all underlying causes of infertility.
For these reasons many women turn to Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine, looking for a more natural options to restarting their mensural cycles. At Balanced Life Health Care our practitioners are experienced with working with clients who have women’s health issues including Amenorrhoea and Post Pill Amenorrhoea. Our gentle integrative approach using Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and supplements. In many cases we work alongside medical professionals.
There is ongoing research about how Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine can assist with the management of certain women’s health related symptoms and you should consult with your treating practitioner/s about how acupuncture and natural medicine may be able to assist you.
