Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation. Women who have missed at least 3 menstrual cycles in a row are said to have amenorrhea, although it's not a "disease" in itself. Instead, amenorrhea can be a clue that there is an underlying medical condition present and can be classified as primary or secondary.
How to Test for Amenorrhea
The reasons for the phenomenon of amenorrhea are quite diverse. Because of this, there isn't a one-size-fits-all method of diagnosing the underlying cause(s) of amenorrhea.
Instead, your provider will likely take a holistic approach to diagnosis and subsequent treatment. They will likely first ask questions about your menstrual and sexual history, before diving deeper with a variety of tests. These tests may include:
- Pregnancy Test
- Thyroid Function Tests
- Ovary Function Tests
- Hormone Panel
- MRI, CT, or Ultrasound
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