[Repeated amenorrhea in an adolescent girl in the course of flood disaster in Kłodzko Region, July 1997].

OBJECTIVES

A natural disaster has been defined as a disruption of human ecology that exceeds the capacity of the community to function normally.

DESIGN

After the flood disaster in Kłodzko Region, July 1997, the major problem in female adolescents was observed: secondary amenorrhea.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

17 female adolescents, aged 13-18, which injured from the flood disaster with secondary amenorrhea were investigated. A control random group consists of 17 girls diagnosed before oral contraception. Diagnostic work-up includes history, physical and psychological examinations, hormonal profiles, transvaginal ultrasonography, color Doppler analysis of utero-ovarian arterial blood flow.

RESULTS

FSH, LH, E2 plasma levels and LH/FSH ratio were significantly lower in the amenorrheic group compared to normal girls. Prolactin serum levels after metoclopramid administration were significantly higher in the amenorrheic group. Lower impedance to blood flow in the intraovarian arteries have been shown. Psychosomatic disorders related to hypothalamic amenorrhoea were diagnosed.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosocial stress observed during the flood disaster caused hypogonadotropic hypogonadism amenorrhoea in the female adolescents.