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© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Primary amenorrhea (PA) describes the complete absence of menses by the age of 15 years. It is a devastating diagnosis that can affect the adolescent’s view of her femininity, sexuality, fertility and self-image. A normal menstrual cycle can occur only in the presence of: a properly functioning hypothalamus–pituitary axis, well-developed and active ovaries, outflow tract without abnormalities. Any dysfunction in any of these players can result in amenorrhea. PA evaluation includes the patient’s medical history, physical examination, pelvic ultrasonography and initial hormone evaluation, limited to the serum-follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone, testosterone and prolactin. A karyotype should be obtained in all adolescents with high FSH serum levels. The main causes of PA, whether or not accompanied by secondary sexual characteristics, include endocrine defects of the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovarian axis, genetic defects of the ovary, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, infections, iatrogenic causes (radiotherapy, chemotherapy), environmental factors and Müllerian tract defects. PA management depends on the underlying causes. Estrogen replacement therapy at puberty has mainly been based on personal experience. PA can be due to endocrine, genetic, metabolic, anatomical and environmental disorders that may have severe implications on reproductive health later in life. In some complex cases, a multidisciplinary team best manages the adolescent, including a pediatrician endocrinologist, gynecologist, geneticist, surgeon, radiologist, and psychologist.

Details

Title
Primary Amenorrhea in Adolescents: Approach to Diagnosis and Management
Author
Gaspari, Laura 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Paris, Françoise 1 ; Kalfa, Nicolas 2 ; Sultan, Charles 3 

 Unité d’Endocrinologie-Gynécologie Pédiatrique, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; Centre de Référence Maladies Rares du Développement Génital, Constitutif Sud, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; INSERM 1203, Développement Embryonnaire Fertilité Environnement, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France 
 Centre de Référence Maladies Rares du Développement Génital, Constitutif Sud, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; Département de Chirurgie Viscérale et Urologique Pédiatrique, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France; UMR 1302 Institute Desbrest of Epidemiology and Public Health, INSERM, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France 
 Unité d’Endocrinologie-Gynécologie Pédiatrique, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France 
First page
536
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
2673396X
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2869309214
Copyright
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.