Catastrophe at menarche

Abstract

Menarche, the beginning of menstrual function occurs as a result of complex interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary and ovarian hormones and is an important event in any girl’s life as it signifies the beginning of fertility. Rarely some diseases like migraine, epilepsy, inherited bleeding disorders can manifest at menarche and cause significant anxiety to the parents and the adolescent girl. A 13-year-old girl presented with convulsions following 8 days of excessive bleeding at the time of menarche. She had altered sensorium, severe anaemia with Respiratory alkalosis and needed ICU Care. She needed multiple transfusions of blood and blood products. She showed features of sepsis on haemogram at admission later manifested respiratory findings. Her bleeding per vaginum did not respond to antifibrinolytics and progesterones and stopped only after evacuation of contents on day 5 under GA. No organism could be isolated and she recovered on Day 6 of higher broad spectrum antibiotics. Her parents were counselled to watch for occurrence of seizures in later life as this catastrophe may signify onset of epilepsy in later life.