Terms used to describe menstruation
Amenorrhea
Related terms · period not starting · menstruation stopped
Amenorrhea is a state where menstruation has not started or where previous menstruation has stopped for a certain period.
Overview
Amenorrhea: Check these three things first
- If menstruation has stopped, first check for the possibility of pregnancy and evaluate based on the date of the last menstrual period and your usual cycle.
- In addition to weight, exercise, and stress, PCOSwe examine various factors including thyroid and ovarian function, as well as medications being taken.
- Waiting too long may lead to missing the critical window for bone health or endometrial management, so receive medical evaluation tailored to the cause.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is amenorrhea?
First, check for pregnancy, then examine weight changes, exercise, stress, PCOS, thyroid, and ovarian function. Amenorrhea is a state where menstruation has not started or where previous menstruation has stopped for a certain period.
- Easily confused terms
- A slightly delayed cycle is different from a state of continuous absence of menstruation.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- Depending on the cause, bone health and endometrial protection are also considered.
- What to record for your visit
- If there is a possibility of pregnancy, start with a test.
Learn more
Connecting amenorrhea to your symptoms
Record the date of your last menstrual period and the cycles of the preceding six months
Please specify the date you last started a normal period, the interval between periods before that, and whether there was only light spotting. The date and result of pregnancy tests, contraceptive methods, and the timing of childbirth, breastfeeding, or medication changes are also necessary to interpret the sequence of the cessation of menstruation.
The cause is not determined by weight and exercise alone
While checking recent weight changes, food intake, exercise intensity, stress, and sleep, we also look for changes such as acne, hirsutism, galactorrhea, sensitivity to heat or cold, and pelvic pain. Necessary tests and ultrasounds are determined based on age, pregnancy plans, and accompanying symptoms.
Herbal medicine treatment goals vary depending on the cause of amenorrhea and pregnancy plans
In Korean medicine treatment, we examine how the duration of the cessation of menstruation overlaps with weight, diet, exercise, cold/heat sensitivity, sleep, digestion, acne, hirsutism, flushing, and loss of energy. While continuing treatment for confirmed causes such as nutritional deficiency, over-exercise, PCOS, thyroid/prolactin issues, or ovarian function, we plan herbal medicine treatment by deciding whether to prioritize cycle recovery, sleep, digestion, or energy. After treatment, we monitor not only the presence of menstruation but also pre-menstrual changes, stability of weight and intake, sleep, heat sensations, and the test schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions regarding amenorrhea
If the pregnancy test is negative, can I wait longer?
Check if the test was taken too early; if menstruation has stopped longer than usual, other causes are evaluated. If there is severe pelvic pain or bleeding, seek medical evaluation sooner.
Is the only goal of treatment to induce menstruation?
It depends on the cause and pregnancy plans. In addition to cycle recovery, bone health, endometrial protection, metabolic status, and fertility planning are considered together.
Women's Health Glossary
Compare similar terms here
You can check a brief definition before proceeding to a detailed explanation.Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideAmenorrheaThe first cause to check for amenorrhea is pregnancy. If not pregnant, causes may include physiological changes such as breastfeeding or menopause, rapid weight loss, insufficient energy intake, excessive exercise, stress, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid/hypothalamus/pituitary issues, primary ovarian insufficiency, hormonal contraceptives, or other medications. If the first period has not started, delayed puberty, genetic/chromosomal conditions, and differences in uterine or vaginal development are also checked. Rather than attributing the cause to weight or stress alone, it is differentiated through pregnancy tests, medical history, physical examination, and necessary hormone tests or ultrasounds.→
- Condition GuidePolycystic Ovary SyndromePolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is diagnosed by synthesizing criteria among irregular ovulation and menstruation, symptoms of androgen excess such as acne and hirsutism, and ovarian morphology on ultrasound, while excluding other causes. It cannot be determined by a single finding of many follicles on ultrasound or by irregular menstruation alone. Treatment goals vary depending on whether immediate pregnancy is desired, whether menstruation and endometrial protection are the priority, or whether acne, hirsutism, and metabolic risks need to be managed. If there are pregnancy plans, the evaluation of ovulation and the fertility of both partners should not be delayed.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat should I check first when menstrual pain and bleeding change?First, check if the pain is more severe than usual, if bleeding has increased or occurred between periods, or if there is a possibility of pregnancy. If you experience bleeding that requires changing menstrual products every hour, dizziness as if you might faint, shortness of breath, or if you have one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder pain, and bleeding along with a possibility of pregnancy, you must be evaluated immediately without waiting for your next appointment. If it is not an urgent situation, please record not only the pain level but also any preceding changes, such as a feeling of blockage in the solar plexus, constipation, or cravings for sweets before menstruation, to help narrow down the treatment questions more quickly.→
- Women's Health ColumnMenstrual calendar: Besides the start date, what else should I track to help with treatment?→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment explanations.
- ACOG: Amenorrhea
- National Korean Medicine Clinical Information Portal: Korean Medicine Standard Clinical Practice GuidelinesReferenced the general principle of varying treatment methods according to the patient's combination of symptoms and treatment goals, even for the same disease.