Primary Amenorrhoea Flashcards
What is primary amenorrhoea?
Primary amenorrhoea is defined as not starting menstruation:
- By 13 years when there is no other evidence of pubertal development
- By 15 years of age where there are other signs of puberty, such as breast bud development
Briefly describe normal puberty
Puberty starts age 8-14 in girls and 9-15 in boys. It takes about four years from start to finish. Girls have their pubertal growth spurt earlier in puberty than boys.
In girls, puberty starts with the development of breast buds, then pubic hair, and finally menstrual periods about two years from the start of puberty.
What is hypogonadism?
Hypogonadism refers to a lack of the sex hormones, oestrogen and testosterone, that normally rise before and during puberty.
What causes hypogonadism?
Hypogonadism refers to a lack of the sex hormones, oestrogen and testosterone, that normally rise before and during puberty. A lack of these hormones causes a delay in puberty. The lack of sex hormones is fundamentally due to one of two reasons:
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a deficiency of LH and FSH
- Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism: a lack of response to LH and FSH by the gonads (the testes and ovaries)
What is hypogonadotropic hypogonadism?
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism involves deficiency of LH and FSH, leading to deficiency of the sex hormones (oestrogen). LH and FSH are gonadotrophins produced by the anterior pituitary gland in response to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. Since no gonadotrophins are simulating the ovaries, they do not respond by producing sex hormones (oestrogen). Therefore, “hypogonadotropism” causes “hypogonadism”.
A deficiency of LH and FSH is the result of abnormal functioning of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
What causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism?
This could be due to:
- Hypopituitarism (under production of pituitary hormones)
- Damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary, for example, by radiotherapy or surgery for cancer
- Significant chronic conditions can temporarily delay puberty (e.g. cystic fibrosis or inflammatory bowel disease)
- Excessive exercise or dieting can delay the onset of menstruation in girls
- Constitutional delay in growth and development is a temporary delay in growth and puberty without underlying physical pathology
- Endocrine disorders such as growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s or hyperprolactinaemia
- Kallman syndrome
What is hypergonadotropic hypogonadism?
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism is where the gonads fail to respond to stimulation from the gonadotrophins (LH and FSH). Without negative feedback from the sex hormones (oestrogen), the anterior pituitary produces increasing amounts of LH and FSH. Consequently, you get high gonadotrophins (“hypergonadotropic”) and low sex hormones (“hypogonadism”).
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism is the result of abnormal functioning of the gonads.
What causes hypergonadotropic hypogonadism?
This could be due to:
- Previous damage to the gonads (e.g. torsion, cancer or infections such as mumps)
- Congenital absence of the ovaries
- Turner’s syndrome (XO)
What is Kallman Syndrome?
Kallman syndrome is a genetic condition causing hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, with failure to start puberty. It is associated with a reduced or absent sense of smell (anosmia).
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is caused by a congenital deficiency of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme. This causes underproduction of cortisol and aldosterone, and overproduction of androgens from birth. It is a genetic condition inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. In a small number of cases, it involves a deficiency of 11-beta-hydroxylase rather than 21-hydroxylase.
In severe cases, the neonate is unwell shortly after birth, with electrolyte disturbances and hypoglycaemia. In mild cases, female patients can present later in childhood or at puberty with typical features:
- Tall for their age
- Facial hair
- Absent periods (primary amenorrhoea)
- Deep voice
- Early puberty
What is angrogen insensitivity syndrome?
Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a condition where the tissues are unable to respond to androgen hormones (e.g. testosterone), so typical male sexual characteristics do not develop. It results in a female phenotype, other than the internal pelvic organs. Patients have normal female external genitalia and breast tissue. Internally there are testes in the abdomen or inguinal canal, and an absent uterus, upper vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
What structural abnormalities can cause primary amenorrhoea?
Structural pathology in the pelvic organs can prevent menstruation. If the ovaries are unaffected, there will be typical secondary sexual characteristics, but no menstrual periods. There may be cyclical abdominal pain as menses build up but are unable to escape through the vagina. Structural pathology that can cause primary amenorrhoea include:
- Imperforate hymen
- Transverse vaginal septae
- Vaginal agenesis
- Absent uterus
- Female genital mutilation
What is the threshold for investigating primary amenorrhoea?
The threshold for initiating investigations is no evidence of pubertal changes in a girl aged 13. Investigation can also be considered when there is some evidence of puberty but no progression after two years.
What blood tests can be ordered for primary amenorrhoea?
Initial investigations assess for underlying medical conditions:
- Full blood count and ferritin for anaemia
- U&E for chronic kidney disease
- Anti-TTG or anti-EMA antibodies for coeliac disease
Hormonal blood tests assess for hormonal abnormalities:
- FSH and LH will be low in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and high in hypergonadotropic hypogonadism
- Thyroid function tests
- Insulin-like growth factor I is used as a screening test for GH deficiency
- Prolactin is raised in hyperprolactinaemia
- Testosterone is raised in polycystic ovarian syndrome, androgen insensitivity syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What genetic testing can be ordered for primary amenorrhoea?
Genetic testing with a microarray test to assess for underlying genetic conditions e.g. Turner’s syndrome (XO).