Which statement is true regarding secondary amenorrhea?

• A. It refers to the absence of menses for 3 cycles after having regular cycles.
• B. It is defined as absence of menses for 12 months in adolescence.
• C. It occurs before puberty.
• D. It is never related to pregnancy.

Answer: (A)

Secondary amenorrhea means a person who has had normal periods no longer has them for a sustained time. Clinically, it is defined as no menses for 3 consecutive cycles or about 6 months, after regular cycles have occurred. This threshold helps distinguish true cessation from normal short-term irregularities or temporary disruptions. The statement that it lasts 12 months in adolescence isn’t the standard definition, since the typical cutoff used is 3 cycles or 6 months, not a full year. It also isn’t something that happens before puberty, because secondary amenorrhea requires a history of prior menses. And pregnancy can cause amenorrhea, so saying it’s never related to pregnancy isn’t accurate. Therefore, the best description is the absence of menses for 3 consecutive cycles after having regular cycles.