Which term describes cessation of menses after a history of regular menses?

• A. Primary amenorrhea
• B. Dysmenorrhea
• C. Menorrhagia
• D. Secondary amenorrhea

Answer: (D)

Cessation of menstruation after a history of regular cycles is termed secondary amenorrhea. This describes a woman who has had menses in the past but then stops having periods for a defined period, typically three consecutive missed cycles or six months. This distinction matters because it points to different underlying processes: a period of reversible disruption or a more persistent condition affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, pregnancy, thyroid or prolactin disorders, weight or stress factors, or scar tissue in the uterus. In contrast, primary amenorrhea refers to never having a period by the appropriate age, dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain, and menorrhagia is heavy menstrual bleeding.