Amenorrhea (not having a menstrual cycle) is a condition we commonly see, and can be diagnosed as either primary amenorrhea, whereby you’ve gotten to age 18 without ever having a menstrual cycle, or secondary amenorrhea, whereby you’ve previously menstruated, but haven’t had a menstrual cycle for 3 months or more.x
First thing’s first; Amenorrhea is a symptom, rather than a diagnosis.
Living with Amenorrhea means there’s something within your system that’s regulating differently. It’s important to understand that regardless of whether you intend to become pregnant or not, ovulating gives you so much more than the potential to have kids. If you’ve had your symptoms dismissed (and have ruled out pregnancy), it’s important to advocate for your health in order to rule out more serious underlying conditions.
Common causes of Amenorrhea:
- Overexertion
- Stress
- Low body weight
- Thyroid imbalance
- Nutritional disorders or improper nutrition
- Physiological changes (such as pregnancy, post-partum, or menopause)
- Underlying conditions such as PCOS
- Pituitary changes
- Ovarian disorders
In Chinese Medicine we often look at Amenorrhea as having a root Chinese Medicine Diagnosis cause of deficiency or stagnation, depending on your specific symptom picture. Regular Acupuncture focuses on hormone balancing, working on any underlying conditions, blood circulation, and promoting ovulation. When it comes to ovulatory dysfunction and regaining a cycle, treatment protocols are a minimum 3-6 months, but can take years. A combination of Acupuncture and herbal medicine may be recommended and will be discussed with you by your practitioner when tailoring an approach.
