title: Future recovery of the normal menstrual cycle in adolescent patients with secondary amenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to determine the future recovery rate of normal menstrual cycles in adolescents with secondary amenorrhea. We also attempted to determine the difference in recovery rate between patients with and without etiological factors for amenorrhea, and between those with first- and second-degree secondary amenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted questionnaire-based analysis of 35 patients with adolescent secondary amenorrhea. When the patients were over 20 years old, we obtained information as to the present menstruation status and the history of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four percent of patients recovered their normal menstrual cycles after the age of 20. The recovery rate was significantly higher in patients with etiological factors (93%) than in those without (60%: P = 0.02). There was a trend towards a higher recovery rate in those with second-degree compared with first-degree amenorrhea, but this was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-quarters of adolescent patients with secondary amenorrhea recovered their normal menstrual cycles. The initial presence of etiological factors for amenorrhea raised the recovery rate. This data provides useful prognostic information for health providers taking care of adolescents with secondary amenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimatsu
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Tomoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone