Period Talk, Part 3: Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Hypothalamic refers to the hypothalamus, and amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation (typically for three months or longer). Hypothalamic amenorrhea, therefore, means the lack of a period due to hypothalamic dysfunction.The hypothalamus is often referred to as the body’s “thermostat”. It regulates our body temperature, our breathing, and in the case of hypothalamic amenorrhea, the hypothalamus controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland that are necessary for menstruation.