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Who is at risk of amenorrhea?

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, amenorrhea that is not caused by pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause occurs in a small percentage (less than 5%) of women during their lifetime.

The risk factors for amenorrhea include:2

  • Excessive exercise
  • Obesity
  • Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa
  • A family history of amenorrhea or early menopause
  • Genetics, such as having a change to the FMR1 gene, which also causes Fragile X syndrome1

Citations

  1. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (PC-ASRM). (2008). Current evaluation of amenorrhea. Fertility and Sterility, 90, S219–225. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/current-evaluation-of-amenorrhea/ external link 
  2. Master-Hunter, T., & Heiman, D. L. (2006). Amenorrhea: Evaluation and treatment. American Family Physician, 73, 1374–1382. Retrieved May 31, 2016, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0415/p1374.html external link
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