Amenorrhea accompanied by galactorrhea and atrophy of the reproductive system is referred to as "galactorrhea-amenorrhea" or also known as "amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome." The milk secreted may be clear like water, or thick like milk, some require squeezing to flow, while others secrete spontaneously. Menstruation often transitions from oligomenorrhea to amenorrhea.
Modern medicine believes that this condition is caused by ovarian dysfunction. It can also result from medications, postpartum conditions, weaning-induced endocrine disorders, or tumors. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is considered to be mainly due to liver and kidney deficiency,督 pulse vacuity, qi and blood deficiency, yin deficiency with stomach dryness, and liver depression with qi rebellion.
(1) Liver and Kidney Deficiency: A constitutionally weak liver and kidney, further exacerbated by sexual activity, childbirth, excessive bleeding, or prolonged breastfeeding, leads to even greater depletion of liver and kidney essence and blood, causing督 pulse vacuity and malnourishment of the Chong and Ren meridians. This results in an inability to properly regulate lactation above and nourish the uterus below, leading to this condition.
(2) Qi and Blood Deficiency: A constitutionally weak spleen and qi, combined with blood loss during childbirth or prolonged breastfeeding, leads to dual deficiency of qi and blood. This causes an inability to properly regulate lactation above and nourish the uterine vessels below, preventing the blood sea from filling and resulting in disease.
(3) Yin Deficiency with Stomach Dryness: A constitutionally yin-deficient state, compounded by internal dryness and insufficient stomach yin, further depleted by postpartum blood loss and breastfeeding, leads to yin fluid depletion. Yin deficiency generates internal heat, and since the breasts belong to the Yangming Stomach channel, the heat forces yang outward, causing milk secretion. The depletion of yin fluids leads to malnourishment of the Chong and Ren meridians, causing amenorrhea.
(4) Liver Depression with Qi Rebellion: Emotional dissatisfaction leads to liver qi stagnation and a loss of the liver's function of ensuring free flow. This results in pathological changes along the liver meridian pathways. Since the nipples are associated with the liver, upward rebellion of liver qi causes galactorrhea; liver qi stagnation leads to obstructed blood flow, resulting in amenorrhea.