Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstruation for 3 consecutive months. Menstruation pertains to a woman’s monthly period. This word are compounded from the 3 Greek words “a” which means no, “men” meaning month and “rhoia” which is a term for flow. The most common cause of this condition is pregnancy but it may also appear as a symptom of another reproductive illness. Some medications can also cause amenorrhea such as the antidepressant Zoloft. Zoloft is a medication under the SSRI drug class and some studies have been made not only showing Zoloft to cause amenorrhea but birth defects as well. It has also been observed by a study done by the University of Nottingham in England that seniors using Zoloft had higher mortality risks where they are more prone to have a heart attack, seizures, stroke and other life-threatening conditions.

 

What are the Common Causes of Amenorrhea?

Several factors are viewed to be the cause of amenorrhea with some of them under natural reasons and not an illness or disorder.

  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Menopause
  • Contraceptives
  • Medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics, chemotherapeutic drugs and anti-hypertensives)
  • Stress
  • Low Body Weight
  • Too much exercise
  • Hormonal Imbalance (Hyperthyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and etc.)

 

Complications of Amenorrhea

The 2 major complications that may arise from this medical condition are the following:

  • Infertility

Part of the menstrual cycle is ovulation. Ovulation is the expulsion of an egg cell from one of the ovaries so a sperm can meet it which will lead to a woman becoming pregnant. Infertility can happen if you don’t have a menstrual cycle.

  • Osteoporosis

One of the causes of amenorrhea is imbalance in hormones. In some cases, low estrogen levels can cause amenorrhea in women. Estrogen is a hormone that helps in calcium bone absorption and low estrogen levels can affect the body’s ability to absorb calcium in the bones. Osteoporosis may result of calcium absorption is hindered.

 

 

Amenorrhea as a Zoloft Side Effect

Zoloft belongs to one of the medications that can cause amenorrhea. As per the FDA, women taking Zoloft may experience amenorrhea as they are included as its side effect. Some Zoloft users reported that they had amenorrhea although it has been stated as an infrequent side effect. A number even took pregnancy tests for fear of being pregnant as Zoloft birth defects are also known as another side effect of the drug.