Pituitary tumors, located in the brain, are usually treated with bromocriptine, a drug that inhibits the abnormally high prolactin secretion caused by these tumors. Surgical removal may also be necessary. Radiation therapy is usually reserved for situations in which other medical or surgical treatment regimens are not successful.

Young women with primary amenorrhea found to be caused by developmental abnormalities (which may result when the parts of the female reproductive system did not form properly before birth) may require hormonal supplementation, surgery, or both.

In any case, psychosocial support and counseling for the patient and family is necessary to address specific concerns and provide guidance regarding anticipated sexual development.

If the problem causing the amenorrhea is not correctable, then the patient and health care provider should consider the possibility of creating pseudomenstruation. This is a menstrual period that is caused by hormonal treatment rather than natural causes.

For women who do not have other reproductive abnormalities, work up for amenorrhea is delayed until after age 16.

If the condition is caused by systemic disease, treatment of the disease should allow menarche to begin.

Prognosis

Overall the prognosis is good, depending on the cause of the amenorrhea. If the amenorrhea is caused by one of the following conditions, there is a good possibility of correcting the amenorrhea, through medication, lifestyle change, or surgery:

• Normal delay of onset (up to age 14 or 15)
• Drastic weight reduction (resulting from poverty or fad dieting)
• Hypoglycemia
• Extreme obesity
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
• Chronic illness
• Malnutrition
• Congenital heart disease (cyanotic)
• Hyperthyroidism
• Imperforate hymen
• Adrenogenital syndrome

If the amenorrhea is caused by one of the following conditions, it is unlikely that the amenorrhea can be corrected by any intervention:

• Congenital abnormalities of the genital system
• Gonadal dysgenesis
• Turner's syndrome (XO)
• Testicular feminization syndrome
• True hermaphroditism
• Cystic fibrosis
• Craniopharyngioma
• Prader-Willi syndrome

Note: If the amenorrhea cannot be corrected, as long as there is a uterus, it may be possible to create a pseudomenstruation with medications to help the young woman feel more like her friends and/or family.

Complications

Psychological distress or crisis about being different from friends or family can occur.

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call your health provider if your daughter is older than age 16 and has not yet begun menstruating.

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