According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, amenorrhea that is not caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause occurs in 3% to 4% of women during their lifetime.1 Secondary amenorrhea is more common than primary amenorrhea.
The risk factors for amenorrhea include:2
- Excessive exercise
- Obesity
- Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa
- A family history of amenorrhea or early menopause
- Having a certain version of the FMR1 gene, that also causes fragile X syndrome3
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (PC-ASRM). (2008). Current evaluation of amenorrhea. Fertility and Sterility, 90, S219−225. Retrieved April 6, 2012, from http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/News_and_Publications/Practice_Guidelines/Educational_Bulletins/Current_evaluation(1).pdf (PDF - 146 KB) [top]
- Master-Hunter, T., & Heiman, D. L. (2006). Amenorrhea: Evaluation and treatment. American Family Physician. 73, 1374−1382. Retrieved April 6, 2012, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0415/p1374.html [top]
- PC_ASRM. (2008). Current evaluation of amenorrhea. Fertility and Sterility, 90, S219−225. Retrieved June 6, 2012, from http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/News_and_Publications/Practice_Guidelines/Educational_Bulletins/Current_evaluation(1).pdf (PDF - 146 KB) [top]