Definition of Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea: Absence or cessation
of menstruation. Amenorrhea is
conventionally divided into primary and secondary
amenorrhea.
- Primary amenorrhea -- menstruation never takes place. It fails to
occur at puberty.
- Secondary amenorrhea -- menstruation starts but then
stops.
The absence
of menstruation during pregnancy is a form of physiologic secondary
amenorrhea,
physiologic in the sense that it is completely normal and
is not caused by
anything medically harmful (pathologic). Amenorrhea during
lactation is
another type of physiologic secondary amenorrhea.
The word
"amenorrhea" is compounded
from three Greek roots "a-", no + "men", month + "rhoia",
flow = no monthly
flow. Amenorrhea is less commonly called amenia.
Last Editorial Review: 7/11/2000
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