Secondary amenorrhea

Secondary amenorrhea is the cessation of menstrual flow for a period of 6 months or more in the absence of pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause. Extreme weight gain or loss, certain medications, as well as anxiety can be the root cause of amenorrhea. Treatment can range from behavior modification for excessive exercise to medication to surgery in the presence of disease.

Review Date: 06/16/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine.