The etymology of the word amenorrhea is Greek; it refers to the cessation or absence of a menstrual period in a premenopausal female. If you are pregnant, the menstrual flow stops naturally, but non-pregnant women can develop amenorrhea as a symptom of numerous conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil may normalize hormonal imbalances and may benefit women with amenorrhea. Talk to your doctor or health care provider if you are not pregnant and you have missed more than three periods in a row.
Causes
There are two forms of amenorrhea: primary and secondary amenorrhea. Primary amenorrhea occurs due to abnormalities in the chromosomes, a missing or defective cervix or uterus and pituitary gland malfunction. Secondary amenorrhea results from too much stress, overtraining or especially rigorous exercise, anorexia and thryoid gland malfunction. Certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs and antidepressants, can also trigger amenorrhea, notes MayoClinic.com.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish oil contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, better known as EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. Your body cannot produce these types of fatty acids on its own, so they are considered essential fatty acids and you must get them from your diet.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Amenorrhea is a common symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, according to PubMed Health. Polycystic ovary syndrome is essentially a hormonal problem that affects women of reproductive age. In addition to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, women with polycystic ovary syndrome develop excessive amounts of male hormones. Virilization is the result, and afflicted women manifest male sex traits, such as a deep voice, thinning hair, male-pattern baldness, growth of the clitoris, diminished breast size and the development of hair on the chest, face and belly.
Research
Research indicates that the omega-3 essential fatty acids in fish oil regulate some of the hormonal symptoms that occur in polycystic ovary syndrome, which may in turn minimize amenorrhea. Researchers from the department of endocrinology at the Adelaide and Meath Hospital in Ireland examined 104 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and found that omega-3 fatty acids modulated the hormonal impact of the condition. The results of this study appeared in the March 2011 issue of “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”
References
- MayoClinic.com; Amenorrhea; May 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Amenorrhea
- Harvard School of Public Health; Ask the Expert: Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Frank Sacks
- PubMed Health: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Hormonal and Metabolic Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Young Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Results From a Cross-Sectional Analysis and a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial; N. Phelan, et al.; March 2011
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