Amenorrhea

Q My period has been absent for over two years. Will I still be able to get pregnant later?

A. It depends on the cause and the state of recovery. With hypothalamic amenorrhea, ovulation often returns and pregnancy becomes possible once energy and weight are restored. However, if the absence has been long and the cause is premature ovarian insufficiency, fertility specialist consultation is needed.

Q I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and my period is absent for three to four months at a time. Can these two be treated together?

A. PCOS and amenorrhea share ovulatory dysfunction as a common basis, so they are treated together. The key is to manage insulin resistance and weight while restoring ovarian function to bring ovulation back.

Q I have hypothyroidism and amenorrhea developed along with it. Will my period return if I get thyroid treatment?

A. Hypothyroidism can lead to amenorrhea through elevated TSH and increased prolactin. When thyroid function normalizes with levothyroxine, amenorrhea often recovers as well.

Q Is there any self-care I can do at home while my period is absent?

A. The keys are keeping your lower abdomen warm, eating three regular and sufficient meals a day, and going to bed before 11 p.m. We recommend cutting back on excessive exercise and replacing it with light walks.

Q I've heard osteoporosis is a concern during amenorrhea. What habits do I need for bone health?

A. During amenorrhea, low estrogen causes bone density to decline rapidly. It is important to get enough calcium (1,000 mg a day) and vitamin D, do weight-bearing exercise (walking, stair climbing), and avoid smoking and alcohol.

Q My period has been absent for six months. Can't I just leave it alone? What happens if I don't treat it?

A. Leaving amenorrhea untreated raises the risk of osteoporosis, endometrial atrophy, and cardiovascular problems due to estrogen deficiency. If it persists for six months or more, evaluation of the cause and treatment are essential.

Q I'm terrified of eating, I've lost a lot of weight, and I have no period. Can this be treated with Korean medicine?

A. When sudden weight loss, bradycardia, and amenorrhea occur together, anorexia nervosa is possible. In this case, collaboration with psychiatry and internal medicine is needed first, rather than Korean medicine alone.

Q I'm getting progesterone injections at the OB-GYN to induce my period. Is it okay to take herbal medicine at the same time?

A. Using a progesterone-induced cycle together with herbal medicine is generally not a problem. Just space the two about one to two hours apart, and be sure to tell your practitioner exactly which hormones you are currently taking and on what schedule.

Q My period has been gone for eight months after stress and crash dieting. How long does recovery take?

A. For functional amenorrhea caused by stress or poor nutrition, periods often return within about three to six months once the cause is removed and weight and lifestyle are restored. The longer the absence has lasted, the more time recovery tends to require.

Q Hormone therapy brought my period back, but it stops again whenever I quit the medication. Can it be maintained without recurrence?

A. When a hormone-induced period stops the moment you quit, it is a sign that the body cannot yet generate its own ovulatory rhythm. To maintain it without medication, you need to correct the underlying cause (weight, stress, exercise) while restoring the function of the uterus and ovaries themselves.

Q I'm 22 and still haven't had my first period. Why does primary amenorrhea happen?

A. Primary amenorrhea refers to never having started menstruating by age 16. In most cases it stems from delayed hormonal development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, or, more rarely, from an anatomical abnormality. Regardless of pregnancy, the first priority is identifying the underlying cause.

Q While dieting, my period suddenly stopped and it's now been three months. Why does secondary amenorrhea happen?

A. Secondary amenorrhea is when previously regular periods stop for three months or more. The most common cause is rapid weight loss, excessive exercise, or stress suppressing the hypothalamus and cutting off the ovulation hormones. Pregnancy must be ruled out first.

Q My period stopped after an extreme low-calorie diet. What should I eat to get it back?

A. The most important thing for restoring menstruation is recovering your total calorie intake. The priority is eating plenty of iron-rich foods such as red lean meat, spinach, and tofu, along with healthy fats (avocado, nuts) and sufficient protein.

Q I train two hours a day preparing for a marathon, and my period has been gone for five months. Is exercise the cause?

A. High-intensity exercise and low body fat suppress GnRH secretion in the hypothalamus, stopping menstruation. This is part of the female athlete triad (amenorrhea, osteoporosis, energy deficiency), and adjusting training volume and improving nutrition must come first.

Q I'm looking for a Korean medicine clinic near Dongincheon. How often do I need to come in for amenorrhea treatment?

A. Treatment usually involves acupuncture once or twice a week along with daily herbal medicine. We review progress once a month and adjust the prescription, gradually lengthening the intervals once signs of menstruation begin to appear.

Q How exactly is amenorrhea treated at a Korean medicine clinic?

A. After identifying the type of cause (Qi and blood deficiency type / blood stasis type / stress type) through examination, we approach the condition step-by-step, following the sequence of blood tonification, warming the uterus, and blood activation and blood stasis dissolving. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are used in combination, and progress is typically monitored every 2 to 3 months.

Q I'm visiting a Korean medicine clinic in Dong-gu, Incheon for the first time for amenorrhea. What should I prepare before my first visit?

A. It greatly helps with an accurate consultation if you organize your last menstrual date, when your period stopped, the weight, stress, and dietary changes around that time, any medications or hormones you're taking, and your OB-GYN test results (ultrasound, blood tests).

Q Can herbal medicine restart my period without hormone drugs? Does it actually work?

A. It depends on the cause. For hypothalamic amenorrhea caused by stress, poor nutrition, or excessive exercise, herbal medicine can help as the body recovers. However, if the problem lies in the hormones themselves or in a structural abnormality, conventional treatment should come first.