Functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea is common but often misdiagnosed, risking inappropriate management and compromised patient education and counselling
Secondary amenorrhoea before the age of 45 years, not due to pregnancy or lactation, lasting over 3 months in a previously eumenorrhoeic woman, or 6 months if menses have been irregular,1 is a cause for concern. Prolonged oestrogen deficiency due to amenorrhoea in reproductive aged women is associated with bone loss, increasing fracture susceptibility,2 dyslipidaemia3 and endothelial dysfunction, potentially increasing cardiovascular disease risk.4,5 Additionally, there is the psychological impact of anxiety about infertility and, conversely, possible unexpected ovulation and undesired pregnancy.6 Women with prolonged amenorrhoea experience more sexual dysfunction, depression and anxiety compared with women with eumenorrhoea.7 In this article, we summarise the available literature on the diagnosis and management of functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA). We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library for publications pertaining to the diagnosis and management of FHA from inception to June 2021. A hypothetical case study (Box 1) illustrates how the available literature can guide clinical practice.
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Susan Davis has been paid for developing and delivering educational presentations for Besins Healthcare, BioFemme and Pfizer Australia; has been on advisory boards for Theramex, Abbott Laboratories, Astellas, Mayne Pharmaceuticals and Roche Diagnostics; has been a consultant to Lawley Pharmaceuticals, Southern Star Research and QUE Oncology; and has been an investigator for QUE Oncology and Ovoca Bio.