Oligomenorrhea (synonyms: Bleeding abnormality-oligomenorrhea (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); Menstrual bleeding (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); Oligomenorrhea; Oligomenorrhea; Cycle disorder-oligomenorrhea (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); ICD-10-GM N91. 3: Primary oligomenorrhea; ICD-10-GM N91.4: Secondary oligomenorrhea; ICD-10-GM N91.5: Oligomenorrhea, unspecified) is a rhythm disorder. The interval between bleeding is greater than 35 days and less than, equal to 90 days.
Bleeding abnormalities (bleeding or cycle disorders) are classified into rhythm disorders and type disorders.
Rhythm disorders include:
- Polymenorrhea – the interval between bleeding is < 25 days, so the bleeding occurs too often.
- Oligomenorrhea (synonyms: Bleeding abnormality – oligomenorrhea (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); menstrual bleeding (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); oligomenorrhea; oligomenorrhea; cycle disorder – oligomenorrhea (interval > 35 days and ≤ 90 days); ICD-10: N91.5a – oligomenorrhea) – the interval between bleeding is greater than 31 days and ≤ 90 days, bleeding occurs too infrequently
- Amenorrhea – no menstrual bleeding until the age of 15 (primary amenorrhea) or no menstrual bleeding for > 90 days (secondary amenorrhea)
In oligomenorrhea, there is usually an ovarian dysfunction (ovarian dysfunction), which is often hypothalamic-dysfunctional. The hypothalamus is part of the diencephalon (interbrain) and serves as the supreme regulatory center for all endocrine and autonomic processes.
Frequency peak: the maximum occurrence of oligomenorrhea is after menarche (first menstrual period) and before the climacteric (female menopause), because at both times endocrinological (hormonal) changes take place in the body. At the time of menarche, the cycle is still “immature” and only gradually becomes more stable, i.e. more regular. At the time before menopause, there is a condition where incipient ovarian insufficiency (malfunction of the ovaries) with follicle persistence (follicle maturation without ovulation) leads to prolonged cycle intervals (up to 8 weeks).
Course and prognosis: Course and prognosis depend on the underlying disease/disorder.Therapy is cause-related. Psychotherapy may be required (e.g., in anorexia nervosa).
