Etiology and management of primary amenorrhoea: A study of 102 cases at tertiary centre

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Dec;56(6):761-764. doi: 10.1016/j.tjog.2017.10.010.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of etiologic causes of primary amenorrhea in Indian population.

Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed using 102 complete medical records of women with primary amenorrhea who attended the Gynaecologic Endocrinology Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AIIMS, New Delhi from September 2012 to September 2015. Cases were analysed according to clinical profile, development of secondary sexual characteristics, physical examination, pelvic and rectal examination, X-ray of chest and lumbo-sacral spine, hormone profile, pelvic USG, MRI, and cytogenetic study including karyotype.

Results: The three most common causes of primary amenorrhea were Mullerian anomalies (47%), gonadal dysgenesis (20.5%), and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (14.7%) in the present study. There were 3 cases of Turner syndrome (45,XO), 5 cases of Swyer's syndrome (46,XY) and 2 cases of Androgen insensitivity syndrome (46,XY). One case had pituitary macroadenoma and eight cases (7.8%) were of genital tuberculosis.

Conclusions: The present study has currently been the largest case series of primary amenorrhea from North India. Mullerian anomaly is the most prevalent etiological factor leading to amenorrhoea followed by gonadal dysgenesis in our study. Racial, genetic and environmental factors could play role in the cause of primary amenorrhea.

Keywords: Gonadal dysgenesis; Mullerian agenesis; Primary amenorrhea.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amenorrhea / congenital
  • Amenorrhea / etiology*
  • Amenorrhea / therapy
  • Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome / complications
  • Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Disease Management
  • Female
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis / complications
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis / epidemiology*
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY / complications
  • Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / complications
  • Hypogonadism / epidemiology*
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mullerian Ducts / abnormalities*
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tertiary Care Centers
  • Turner Syndrome / complications
  • Turner Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Young Adult