What was the study asking?

What is the current evidence regarding the pathophysiology of amenorrhoea, specifically Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea (FHA,) in women?

What did they find?

Secondary amenorrhoea is the absence of menses for at least 3 consecutive months. Physiological causes of secondary amenorrhoea include:

     – Pregnancy

     – Menopause

     – PCOS

     – Congenital adrenal hyperplasia 

     – Genetic conditions

     – Pituitary hormone dysfunction or neoplasia

     – FHA

FHA is a type of secondary amenorrhoea where there is no identified structural cause. It is diagnosed by a combination of clinical and blood assessments. 

The most common causes of FHA are:

     -Psychological stress 

     -Excessive exercise 

     -Inadequate caloric intake

     -Inadequate carbohydrate intake 

What is the take-home message?

A healthy menstrual cycle is an important aspect of women’s reproductive and overall health, and identifying the specific causes of secondary and functional amenorrhoea is vital for restoring menses in affected women.