Primary amenorrhoea (analysis of 40 cases)

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Surgical Diagnostics

Background:

• Primary amenorrhea, the absence of menstruation by age 15, affects a significant number of individuals.
• Understanding the diverse etiologies of primary amenorrhea is crucial for effective management.
• Traditional diagnostic methods can be invasive and costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the etiological spectrum of primary amenorrhea in a tertiary care setting.
• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of laparoscopy in cases of primary amenorrhea.
• To determine if laparoscopy can obviate the need for certain biochemical tests.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 40 primary amenorrhea cases presenting to Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal (1987-1988).
• Clinical data review including patient history, physical examination, and investigations.
• Laparoscopic procedures performed for diagnostic purposes in selected cases.

Main Results:

• Müllerian dysgenesis was the most frequent diagnosis, accounting for 50% of cases.
• Other diagnoses included a case of true hermaphroditism with bilateral ovotestis and one case of genital tuberculosis.
• Laparoscopy provided comprehensive information, aiding in diagnosis and management planning.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopy is a valuable tool in the diagnostic workup of primary amenorrhea.
• This minimally invasive procedure can offer significant diagnostic insights.
• Laparoscopy may reduce the reliance on expensive investigations like radioimmunoassays in select primary amenorrhea cases.