Primary amenorrhea:
- Client never menstruated before; absence of menses by age 16 if secondary sexual characteristic is present; absence of menses by age 14 if secondary sexual characteristic is absent.
- Turner's syndrome (no X chromosome) is the most common cause of primary amenorrhea.
Secondary amenorrhea:
- Client did have menses previously; absence of menses for more than 3 days.
- Can be due to stress, excessive exercise, anorexia nervosa, post pill (last for 6 months), drugs (antipsychotic, antidepressant, benzodiazepine), pituitary failure, pituitary failure, pituitary neoplasms.
- Pregnancy is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea.
