Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of amenorrhea.
Family history
- Menarche age (age of first menstrual period) of mother and sister.
Social history
- Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- When was your last menstrual period?
- How long has the change in menstruation existed?
- What is your usual cycle length* ? What is the longest and shortest cycle, respectively?
- How heavy is your menstrual bleeding? How many tampons or pads do you need per day?
- How long does the menstrual period last?
- Have you noticed any additional symptoms such as pain or fever?* * .
- Have you recorded a basal body temperature (BTK) curve? – Recording the temperature curve (measured before getting up) can give important clues to hormone imbalances
- Is there a desire to have children?
- Do you already have children?
* The cycle duration or cycle length refers to the menstrual cycle. A woman’s cycle length is calculated from the first day of bleeding to the last day before the next bleeding.
Vegetative history including nutritional history.
- Are you underweight? Please tell us your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs (amphetamines, heroin, LSD) and how often per day or per week?
- Do you engage in competitive sports?
Self-history incl. medication history
- Pre-existing conditions (chronic underlying diseases: eg, diabetes mellitus, kidney and inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease; disturbed eating behavior).
- Operations
- Allergies
Medication history
- Antipsychotics (neuroleptics) – such as haloperidol.
- Appetite suppressants – such as fenfluramine.
- Hormones
- GnRH analogues (goserelin acetate, leuporelin acetate, buderelin acetate, nafarelin acetate, triptorelin acetate).
- Hormonal contraceptives (minipill, three-month injection, intrauterine device with progestin/progestin coil).
- Progesterone receptor modulator (Ulipristal).
- See under drug side effects: “Hyperprolactinemia due to medications.”
- Spironolactone (aldosterone antagonist).
- Cytotoxic substances (condition n. Chemotherapy).
* * If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the doctor is required! (Information without guarantee)
