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Amenorrhea
- Article from:
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Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer
- Author:
- Bennington, Linda K
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Amenorrhea
Definition
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation and is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of the onset of menstruation by age 16 whether or not normal growth and secondary sexual characteristics are present, or the absence of menses after age 14 when normal growth and signs of secondary sexual characteristics are present. Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menses for three cycles or six months in women who have previously menstruated.
In terms of the relationship of amenorrhea to cancer, amenorrhea may be a symptom of a gynecologic tumor,
or the pause or cessation in menstruation may develop as a side effect of cancer ...