Question

Lois, a 32-year old unmarried female business executive develops amenorrhea. She has not recently lost weight but states that her job is very stressful. Laboratory evaluation reveals the following results:



PARAMETER

VALUE

NORMAL RANGE

Serum estradiol

14pg/ml

23-145

LH

1.2mIU/ml

2-15

FSH

1.5mIU/ml

2-20

Prolactin

6.2ng/ml

2-25

TSH

1.2µU/ml

0.5-5.0


A serum pregnancy test is negative and an MRI scan of her pituitary gland is normal. What is the probable diagnosis? Explain.

Answer 1

The amenorrhea in the presented case is most likely caused by work-related stress. Currently, the patient has lost weight, which has been demonstrated to cause amenorrhea. The hormonal tests that are presented fall within normal fluctuations, which rules out hormanal imbalances as the primary cause. Ideally, the condition is brought about by work related stress and exacerbated by the weight loss.