Treatment of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea with hypnotherapy

Objective: To determine the effects of hypnotherapy on resumption of menstruation in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Design: Uncontrolled clinical study. Setting: Academic clinical care center. Patient(s): Twelve consecutive women with FHA were selected. Intervention(s): A single 45- to 70-minute session of hypnotherapy was administered, and patients were observed for 12 weeks. Main Outcome Measure(s): Patients were asked whether or not menstruation resumed and whether or not well-being and self-confidence changed. Result(s): Within 12 weeks, 9 out of 12 patients (75%) resumed menstruation. All of the patients, including those who did not menstruate, reported several beneficial side effects such as increased general well-being and increased self-confidence. Conclusion(s): Hypnotherapy could be an efficacious and time-saving treatment option that also avoids the pitfalls of pharmacological modalities for women with FHA.