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PubMed1998

Prophylactic iron supplementation after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a prospective, double-blind, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prophylactic oral iron supplements (320 mg twice daily) would protect women from iron deficiency and anemia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study in which 29 patients received oral iron and 27 patients received a placebo beginning 1 month after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. SETTING: Tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Complete blood cell count and serum levels of iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, vitamin B12, and folate were determined preoperatively and at 6-month intervals postoperatively in 56 menstruating women who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence of iron deficiency and other hematological abnormalities in each treatment group. RESULTS: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and vitamin B12 levels were significantly decreased compared with preoperative values in both groups. Conversely, folate levels increased significantly over time in both groups. Oral iron consistently prevented development of iron deficiency in the iron group. Ferritin levels did not change significantly in the iron group. However, in placebo-treated patients, ferritin levels 2 years postoperatively were significantly decreased compared with preoperative levels. There was no difference in the incidence of anemia between the 2 groups. However, the incidence of microcytosis was substantially greater (P=.07) in placebo-treated than iron-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic oral iron supplements successfully prevented iron deficiency in menstruating women after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass but did not consistently protect these women from developing anemia. On the basis of these results we now routinely recommend prophylactic iron supplements to menstruating women who have Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of isoflavone supplement on healthy women.

Effects of the isoflavone supplement on hormonal states in young premenopausal women were studied by cross-over study design. Administration of 20 mg or 40 mg isoflavones (IF) by tablets, of which 1 g contained 43.5 mg daidzein, 6.0 mg genistein, 24.0 mg glycitein, to 40 young female students for one month caused a prolonged menstruation in 60% of young women, shortened menstruation in 20% of young women, 17% remained unchanged and 3% became irregular. Larger dose tended to elongate more, but 17beta-estradiol levels in both follicular and luteal phages were not different between 20 mg and 40 mg isoflavone intake. Equor excreters tended to show low plasma progesteron level in the luteal phase. Detailed hormonal analysis on 3 of students by a cross over study design showed decreased level of 17beta-estradiol throughout the menstruation cycle. SHBG significantly increased about 10% in all three. DEAS, androstendione, and testosterone showed different responses according to the follicular or luteal phase. T3 and T4 increased as a result of isoflavone tablet administration in the follicular phase, but it decreased in the luteal phase. These changes suggest that isoflavones influence not only estrogen receptor-related functions but the hypothalamo-hypophysis-gonadal axis.

Androstenedione↗
PubMed1997

Granisetron reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting throughout menstrual cycle.

PURPOSE: The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is influenced by menstruation. This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of granisetron, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist, for preventing PONV in patients during two different phases of menstrual cycle. METHODS: One hundred twenty female patients undergoing general anaesthesia for major gynaecological surgery were divided according to the phase of menstrual cycle into two groups: day one to eight (menstrual) and day nine to end of the cycle (non-menstrual) groups. In a randomized, double-blind manner, the patients received placebo (saline) or 40 micrograms.kg-1 granisetron i.v. immediately before the induction of anaesthesia. All patients received a standardized general and epidural anaesthesia and epidural morphine plus bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia. The incidence of PONV and other adverse events was recorded during the first 24 hr after anaesthesia. RESULTS: The treatment groups were similar with respect to patient demographics, types of surgery, anaesthetics administered and analgesics used postoperatively. The incidence of PONV was 72% and 32% in patients during menstruation receiving placebo or granisetron (P < 0.05), and was 46% and 20% in those during non-menstruation, respectively (P < 0.05). No differences in the incidence of other adverse events were observed among the groups. CONCLUSION: Granisetron was effective in reducing the incidence of PONV in both phases of the menstrual cycle studied.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Short-term effects of high soy supplementation on sex hormones, bone markers, and lipid parameters in young female adults.

BACKGROUND: High intake of soy products has been suggested to prevent breast cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effects of isoflavone-containing soy on circulating sex hormones, biomarkers of bone turnover, and lipoprotein profiles. METHODS: Fourteen young women received in a randomized crossover design 5 soy cookies (52 mg isoflavones) or 5 soy-free cookies (no isoflavones) per day for one menstrual cycle starting one week before menstruation. Serum and urine analyses were performed on day 3 after onset of menstruation (t(1)), 3 days before ovulation (t(2)), 3 days after ovulation (t(3)), during the midluteal phase (t(4)), and again 3 days after onset of the next menstruation (t(5)). RESULTS: With the exception of higher progesterone levels at t(2), soy supplementation did not affect the physiologic fluctuations in circulating sex hormones. The ratio of C-telopeptide (a bone resorption marker) to osteocalcin (a bone formation marker) was slightly higher at t(4) during the soy period compared to t(4) during the control period (P < 0.05), indicating an uncoupling of bone resorption and formation processes. Serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were not influenced by soy intake. CONCLUSIONS: High short-term isoflavone-containing soy intake slightly affects physiologic fluctuations in bone turnover, but has no significant effects on most circulating sex hormones and on lipoprotein parameters in young healthy women.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

The G277S transferrin mutation does not affect iron absorption in iron deficient women.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most important nutritional diseases, with high prevalence worldwide. The G277S transferrin mutation has been implicated as a risk factor for iron deficiency in menstruating women. However, the subject is controversial and there are no data concerning the possible influence of this polymorphism on iron absorption. AIM OF THE STUDY: To undertake a pilot study to investigate the effect of carrying the G277S transferrin mutation on non-haem iron absorption from a meal in young menstruating women compared to wild-type controls. METHODS: Menstruating women with low iron stores (serum ferritin < 30 microg/l) or who had suffered from iron deficiency anaemia or had a family history of anaemia were recruited (n = 162). Haematological parameters were analysed, including haemoglobin, ferritin, total-iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation. Non-haem iron absorption from a meal was measured in 25 non-anaemic women either with the G277S/G277G (n = 10) or the wild type G277G/G277G (n = 15) genotype. The incorporation of stable isotopes of iron into erythrocytes was used to measure absorption. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in iron status indices or non-haem iron absorption between genotypes. However, G277S carriers did not show the usual inverse association between iron stores and non-haem iron absorption. Further studies should focus on the effects of a combination of polymorphisms in iron metabolism genes on iron absorption.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Metabolic control, food intake and mood during the menstrual cycle in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.

The impact of menstruation on metabolic control was studied among 20 insulin-dependent diabetics (IDDM) and 20 healthy controls during two menstrual cycles. No systematic fluctuation in glycated protein, blood glucose levels, food intake, intake of mono- and disaccharides, body weight, or mood could be seen during different weeks in the menstrual cycle. A tendency towards menstruation-related variations in the number of insulin reactions and amount of extra injected insulin was observed in the patient group. Levels of glycated protein were significantly (P < 0.05) higher during the premenstruational than during the postmenstruational week, although the difference was small in absolute terms. A poorer mood during the premenstruation weeks (indicating premenstruation syndrome) was associated with a high number of hypoglycemic events (P < 0.01) and frequent changes in insulin doses (P < 0.01). Thus, taken as a group diabetic women do not experience great changes in food intake or metabolic control during the menstrual cycle. This does not exclude the possibility that a small proportion of women have major menstruation related difficulties in controlling their diabetes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1987

Serum total and HDL cholesterols according to reproductive status in Japanese females.

In order to observe variations according to reproductive status, serum total cholesterol (TC) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) were investigated in 153 pregnant, in 153 age-adjusted non-pregnant females, in 787 females aged 45-54 years living in a northern suburb of Tokyo, and in 150 12-year-old girls from a private junior high school in a southern suburb of Tokyo. Non-menstruating (non-menarcheal, postmenopausal) females had significantly higher TC and significantly lower HDL-C/TC than menstruating (menarcheal, premenopausal) females did in both the age groups of 12 and 45-54 years, although no significant difference of HDL-C was found between them. The menstruating females tended to be more overweight in Quetelet's index and had thicker skinfolds. Pregnant females at the eighth month of gestation revealed a significantly high value of both TC and HDL-C vs age-adjusted non-pregnant females, while at the fourth month of gestation only HDL-C was high.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The effect of smoking on menopausal age.

A comprehensive population study of women in Goteborg, Sweden was carried out in 1968--1969. Altogether 1462 women in five age strata were studied. The age stratum 50 comprised about the same number of postmenopausal women (n = 161) and women who still menstruated (n = 168). A comparison could, therefore, be made between still menstruating and postmenopausal women of almost identical age. In postmenopausal 50-yr-old women 50% were smokers compared to 26% in 50-yr-old women who still menstruated. The difference was highly significant. Almost all the postmenopausal women had been smokers for many years, which means that they did not start smoking as a consequence of the menopause. It thus seemed that an earlier menopause was a consequence of smoking. The difference could not or only to a small extent be explained by other factors such as differences in body weight between smokers and non-smokers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CTG trinucleotide repeat length and clinical expression in a family with myotonic dystrophy.

Unstable expansion of the CTG repeats in the 3' untranslated region encoding a member of the protein kinase family in the q13.3 band on chromosome 19 is a mutation specific for myotonic dystrophy. To examine the correlation between clinical expression and CTG trinucleotide repeat length, we carried out Southern blot analysis in a family with myotonic dystrophy. In this pedigree, the expanded CTG repeats were transmitted maternally. The mother had three female children. The mother had about 200 CTG repeats, and the number of repeats for each child was about 800, 1500 and 1600 in birth order. The mother and the patient with 800 repeats were unaware of muscle weakness or myotonia. Symptoms were present from age 3 years in the patient with 1500 repeats and from birth in the one with 1600 repeats. Although the mother menstruated regularly, the patients with 800 and 1500 repeats both menstruated irregularly, and the one with 1600 repeats has never menstruated. The age of onset and severity of the disease were correlated with the size of the expanded repeats. Endocrinological studies revealed that the basal levels of the gonadotropins, PRL and E2 were within normal range, and a pituitary response to LHRH was observed. These data suggest that the amenorrhea and menstrual irregularities were caused by a suprahypophyseal dysfunction. When expanded CTG repeats are transmitted maternally, abnormal products resulting from the metabolic disturbance in the affected mother may harm the fetus in utero. A heterozygous fetus, who has more CTG repeats, may be unable to metabolize the pathologic products sufficiently and therefore may become more severely affected. This may explain the exclusive maternal transmission of congenital myotonic dystrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A retrospective study of large ovarian masses in paediatric practice.

A retrospective review of 15 patients presenting over a 15-year period with large ovarian tumours is reported in whom the presenting complaint was gross abdominal swelling. Histological confirmation of all the tumours was obtained. There were three serous cystadenomas, two mucinous cystadenomas, one Brenner tumour, three benign juvenile granulosa cell tumours--two not menstruating, three benign teratomas--one not menstruating, one malignant teratoma--not yet menstruating, one malignant embryonic carcinoma and one hydatid disease. All the patients are currently well. The radiological findings are described and some of the marked differences in the radiological appearances of adult and paediatric ovarian masses are illustrated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Serum ferritin in Danes: studies of iron status from infancy to old age, during blood donation and pregnancy.

Iron status and body iron reserves were examined in a broad spectrum of the Danish population, and sex- and age-related changes determined. Serum ferritin concentration was employed as an indicator of mobilizable body iron stores. The relationship between serum ferritin and histochemical assessment of stainable bone marrow haemosiderin iron was examined in healthy individuals, defining threshold values for serum ferritin indicating exhausted, small, normal, ample, and increased iron stores. The populations examined comprised 7241 randomly selected normal individuals with an age distribution ranging from newborn to 85 years old. The influence of factors having a significant impact on iron balance, e.g., menstruation, pregnancy, parity, and blood donation, was analysed separately. Newborns had high cord serum ferritin levels, which were to a certain extent dependent on the mother's iron status. Newborns of mothers taking iron supplementation during pregnancy had higher cord serum ferritin than newborns of mothers taking a placebo. In children, the serum ferritin level was relatively constant from 3 years of age until adolescence, where the prevalence of exhausted iron stores was 13% in boys and 18% in girls. In postadolescent men, there was a gradual increase in serum ferritin levels until 30 years of age. Subsequently, serum ferritin remained relatively constant until old age. Among 30- to 70-year-old men, 9.4% had ample iron stores. The prevalence of depleted iron stores was 1.4%, and of iron deficiency anaemia 0.24%. In women, serum ferritin levels remained low from adolescence until the menopause. Among 30- to 50-year-old premenopausal women, the prevalence of ample iron stores was 0.49%, whereas 18% had exhausted iron reserves and 2.6% had iron deficiency anaemia. After menopause, serum ferritin gradually rose and approached male levels. Among 60- to 70-year-old postmenopausal women, 3.0% had ample iron stores, 2.3% had depleted stores and none had iron deficiency anaemia. In fertile women, the choice of contraception had a significant influence on the iron loss at menstruation. Hormonal contraception reduced iron loss, whereas the use of intrauterine devices increased iron loss. These effects were reflected in the serum ferritin levels of menstruating women. In a placebo-controlled study of iron supplementation during pregnancy, serum ferritin levels displayed a characteristic fall both in placebo- and iron-treated women. Among placebo-treated pregnant women at term, 19% had depleted iron reserves and 12% had iron deficiency anaemia, and among iron-treated women, 3% had depleted iron stores and none had iron deficiency anaemia. In non-pregnant women, there was a significant inverse relationship between parity and serum ferritin. Blood donation had a marked influence on the serum ferritin level in the adult population. Among Danes, 20-60 years of age, 27% of men, 15% of premenopausal and 10% of postmenopausal women were blood donors. In all three groups, the prevalence of depleted iron depots was higher in donors than in non-donors. Among premenopausal female blood donors, 31.7% had depleted iron reserves and 3.3% iron deficiency anaemia. In general, Danish men and postmenopausal women had a satisfactory iron status. Adolescent Danish girls and premenopausal women had a high prevalence of iron deficiency, which should be taken into consideration when establishing guidelines and recommendations for nutritional iron intake in this section of the population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Precocious puberty and polycystic ovarian syndrome: apropos of 13 cases].

BACKGROUND: Precocious puberty and polycystic ovarian syndrome are two different entities which appear at different stages of ovarian development. Their association is uncommon. POPULATION: Thirteen girls presented idiopathic central precocious puberty with sexual development before the age of 8 years; menstruations were seen at the age of 9.5 years in one patient. Nine of them were given medroxyprogesterone or cyproterone acetate and two patients LHRH analog. Menarche occurred at a mean age of 11.8 +/- 1.5 years. After a mean free interval of 22 months, these thirteen patients developed hirsutism with irregular menstruations (eight patients) and weight gain (seven patients). The diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome was confirmed by increased plasma testosterone (mean 91.1 +/- 14 ng/dl) and LH levels during LHRH test and by ultrasonography or coelioscopy. The treatment included cyproterone acetate plus 17 beta oestradiol; it was discontinued in eleven cases after 2 years of treatment. Plasma testosterone levels were normal 6 months later in association with regular menstruations. But three patients presented clinical and hormonal recurrence one year later, requiring repeated treatment. CONCLUSION: This association seems to be related to the same gonadotropin dysfunction. It is necessary to regularly follow patients treated for precocious puberty.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Renal clearance of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoate in humans and their species-specific excretion.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are detected in the environment, as well as more specifically in wildlife and humans. However, the toxicokinetic aspects of perfluorochemicals in humans are unclear. In this study, we measured concentrations of PFOA and PFOS in subjects who had lived in Kyoto city for more than 10 years. The serum concentrations of PFOA and PFOS were higher in females who menstruated than those who did not menstruation (P<0.01), but in males this did not change by age; the levels in females reached those in males at an age of 60 years. We then determined the renal clearances of PFOA and PFOS in young (20-40 years old, N=5 for each sex) and old (60 years old, N=5 for each sex) subjects of both sexes. All young females were menstruating, while all old females were not. The renal clearances were 10(-5)-fold smaller than the glomerular filtration rate in humans, suggesting the absence of active excretion in human kidneys. The renal clearances of PFOA and PFOS were approximately one-fifth of the total clearance based on their serum half-lives, assuming a one-compartment model. The sex differences in renal clearance that have been reported in rats and Japanese macaques were not found in our human subjects. We tried to build a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model using the reported half-lives in human. The model was simple but could predict the serum concentrations in both males and females fairly well. We therefore suggest that an internal dose approach using a pharmacokinetic model should be taken because of the large species differences in kinetics that exist for PFOA and PFOS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Estrogen and exercise may be related to body fat distribution and leptin in young women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of estrogen deficiency and exercise on body composition and leptin in young women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional clinical study. SETTING: Volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Three age- and body mass index-matched groups: normal-weight women with exercise-associated amenorrhea, regularly menstruating exercising control women, and regularly menstruating normally active control women. INTERVENTION(S): Collection of blood samples and measurement of body fat and regional fat distribution by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Central fat accumulation (i.e., ratio of trunk to extremity fat) and serum concentrations of E(2) and leptin. RESULT(S): In both regularly menstruating control groups, but not in the amenorrheic women, there was a negative correlation between the serum E(2) concentrations and the trunk-to-extremity fat ratio (r = -0.4), independent of age, exercise, body fat, and serum T concentrations. In all women, E(2) concentrations were positively and exercise inversely correlated to leptin concentrations, independent of body fat. CONCLUSION(S): Estradiol level is inversely associated with central fat accumulation only in women with regular menstrual cycles. In all young premenopausal subjects, estrogen secretion influences leptin concentrations independently of body fat.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

Health-related quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a self-administered questionnaire, was validated.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the measurement properties of a questionnaire (PCOSQ) measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: This multicenter prospective randomized placebo-controlled blinded study enrolled 393 patients with PCOS at tertiary care sites. Participants were randomized to placebo or troglitazone (150 mg/d, 300 mg/d, or 600 mg/d). At baseline (n=393) and after 44 weeks of treatment (n=284) the proportion of normal menstrual cycles, the free testosterone (T) level, four objective measures of facial hair growth (hair density and hair growth rate by photography, and hair diameter and hair growth rate using plucked hairs), and a subjective assessment of the degree of hirsutism, the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) score, were determined. At both visits, patients also completed the PCOSQ. Since the trial was conducted, troglitazone has been removed from the market because of toxic effects. The PCOSQ includes 26 questions (items) that address five areas of concern (domains), including emotions, body hair, body weight, fertility, and menstruation rated on a seven-point scales in which lower scores denote higher degrees of patient concern and a lower HRQOL. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was >0.7 for four of five domains. Factor analysis provided moderate to strong support for the five-domain structure of the PCOSQ. Cross-sectional correlations were weak with all measures but the F-G score and hair growth (r=-.46, P < .01). The change in the F-G score showed a statistically significant (P < .01) correlation with changes in PCOSQ hair growth (r=-.22), weight (r=-.17), infertility (r=-.20), and menstruation (r=-.20). Changes in the proportion of normal menstrual cycles correlated with change in the infertility domain (r=.14, P < .03) and with the change in the menstruation domain (r=.31, P < .001). The PCOSQ proved as responsive as the F-G, and more responsive than the objective measures of hair growth, to effects of troglitazone. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provides some support for the discriminative and longitudinal validity, and appreciable support for the responsiveness, of the PCOSQ.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Bone mineral density in adolescent females using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine bone mineral density (BMD) on a semi-annual basis among control subjects and adolescent females receiving depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injection or oral contraceptives. DESIGN: Non-randomized prospective study. SETTING: Teenage pregnancy prevention intervention clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescent females who were new users of DMPA injection (N=58, age 12-21) or the oral contraceptive pill (N=71, age 11-19) and normal menstruating girls (N=19, age 15-18). INTERVENTIONS: Baseline and 6-monthly measures of lumbar vertebral BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry over a 2-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: comparison of percent change on BMD over time between DMPA users, pill users, and normal menstruating girls. RESULTS: There was no difference on group characteristics at baseline except for the ethnicity between the controls and the DMPA group. There was a statistically significant decrease in BMD between DMPA users and controls at 6 months (-3.02% change, P=0.014) 12 months (-3.38% change, P=0.001) 18 months (-4.81% change, P<0.001) and 24 months (-6.81% change, P=0.010). There was no statistical difference between pill users and controls. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between DMPA use and a decrease in BMD compared to normal menstruating controls that seems to persist up to 24 months.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2004

Women's menarche stories from a multicultural sample.

This paper reports on the findings of a focus group study that examines how women have experienced menarche at the personal level and in relation to the larger cultural, religious, and societal environment. Fifty-three women from 34 different countries were recruited in 13 focus groups. On the one hand, at the personal level, menarche stories shared in this study revealed salient themes concerning feelings experienced at the time of menarche, the importance of mother's reactions to their daughter's first menstruation, difficulties around understanding the meanings attached to menarche by others, managing menstrual products, as well as making sense of formal education related to menstruation, and the age of menarche. On the other hand, the discussions concerning how women experienced menarche in relation to the larger cultural, religious, and societal environment revealed secrecy to be a defining feature of many stories. Cultural expectations of learning, and following the rules and regulations surrounding menstruation led to different reactions in women at the time of their menarche. Very few women mentioned a ritual or celebration at the time of their menarche. Findings are discussed in terms of similarities and differences in menarche stories of women from different cultural backgrounds. Limitations of the study are mentioned and suggestions for future research are provided.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Aging women with polycystic ovary syndrome who achieve regular menstrual cycles have a smaller follicle cohort than those who continue to have irregular cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether follicle loss due to ovarian aging is responsible for the occurrence of regular menstrual cycles in aging women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the size of the FSH-sensitive follicle cohort was estimated by the exogenous follicle-stimulating hormone ovarian reserve test (EFORT) and related to the follicle count as measured by ultrasound. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Reproductive endocrinology unit of an academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven aging women with PCOS (35.8-49.4 years): 20 with regular menstrual cycles and 7 with oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea. INTERVENTION(S): EFORT and transvaginal ultrasound. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Baseline (cycle day 2, 3, or 4) FSH, androstenedione (A), T, E(2), and inhibin B levels, the E(2) and inhibin B increment after the EFORT, and the follicle count. RESULT(S): After correction for the body mass index (BMI), the inhibin B increment was higher in the irregular menstrual group, but the E(2) increment did not differ significantly between the two groups. Ultrasound showed a median follicle count of 8.5 (4.0-18.0) in women with regular menstrual cycles (n = 16), compared with 18.0 (8.0-35.0) in irregularly menstruating women (n = 7). The follicle count was significantly correlated to the FSH-induced E(2) increment (r = 0.656) as well as to the inhibin B increment (r = 0.654). The regularly menstruating group was significantly older, had a higher basal FSH concentration, and had lower androgens than the irregularly menstruating group. CONCLUSION(S): The smaller follicle count, the older age, the higher FSH concentration, and the lower FSH-induced inhibin B increment found in women with PCOS and a regular menstrual cycle confirm that a decrease in the size of the follicle cohort due to ovarian aging is largely responsible for the regular menstrual cycles in aging PCOS women.

Adult↗