title: Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
abstract: The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the European Society of Endocrinology, and the Pediatric Endocrine Society. This guideline was funded by the Endocrine Society.
  
  
  
  To formulate clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA).
  
  
  
  The participants include an Endocrine Society-appointed task force of eight experts, a methodologist, and a medical writer.
  
  
  
  This evidence-based guideline was developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach to describe the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. The task force commissioned two systematic reviews and used the best available evidence from other published systematic reviews and individual studies.
  
  
  
  One group meeting, several conference calls, and e-mail communications enabled consensus. Endocrine Society committees and members and cosponsoring organizations reviewed and commented on preliminary drafts of this guideline.
  
  
  
  FHA is a form of chronic anovulation, not due to identifiable organic causes, but often associated with stress, weight loss, excessive exercise, or a combination thereof. Investigations should include assessment of systemic and endocrinologic etiologies, as FHA is a diagnosis of exclusion. A multidisciplinary treatment approach is necessary, including medical, dietary, and mental health support. Medical complications include, among others, bone loss and infertility, and appropriate therapies are under debate and investigation.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.|Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Berga
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157.
authors.forename: Jay R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Areteio Hospital, Medical School, National and Capodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece 10674.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
authors.forename: Madhusmita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: M Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado 80045.
authors.forename: Nanette F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Center for Menopause, Hormonal Disorders, and Women's Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York 10021.
authors.forename: Michelle P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004704:Endocrinology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D012955:Societies, Medical; D055815:Young Adult