Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Patterns in the Follicular Phase of the Menstrual Cycle, Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and Non-PCOD Secondary Amenorrhea

Abstract

To characterize the oscillations of plasma LH in normally cycling and amenorrheic women, three groups of women were studied: I, normal women during the follicular phase of the cycle (n = 9); II, women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD; n = 11); and III, women with non-PCOD secondary amenorrhea (n = 12). Blood samples were obtained at 10-min intervals for 6 h on 2 separate days. A pulse was defined as an increase in LH at least 20% over the preceding lowest value (nadir). Since LHRH release immediately follows the nadir of the LH levels, the nadir interval (NI) was used for analysis. For analysis, the results from 1 day were selected at random from each subject, and from each day, the same number of NIs also were randomly selected. When two NIs from each patient were selected, the median NI was 75 min in group I, 45 min in group II, and 45 min in group III. When three or four NIs were chosen, the median NI was 60 min in group I, 50 min in group II, and 40 min in group III. The differences between the groups were statistically significant. When three NIs were selected, the mean of the corresponding LH amplitudes was 2.8 U/liter in group I, 6.0 U/liter in group II, and 1.5 U/liter in group III. The differences between these groups were statistically significant. Thus, the NI in PCOD patients was shorter than that during the follicular phase of the cycle, but this short NI is not unique for PCOD, since the NI in non-PCOD secondary amenorrhea patients was even smaller. The LH amplitude was higher in PCOD and lower in non-PCOD secondary amenorrhea compared to that during the follicular phase of the cycle. The decrease in NI in PCOD and/or non-PCOD secondary amenorrhea vs. the NI of the follicular phase could be explained by either a higher frequency of LHRH pulses from the hypothalamus or an increased sensitivity of the pituitary leading to a greater response of the pituitary to LHRH pulses.

Discrepancy in Menstrual Cycle Relates to Diverse Profession and Age Cluster of District Mardan Khyber PakhtoonKhwa, Pakistan

“…Menstruation stops occurring after menopause which usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age. Amenorrhea refers to a condition which is characterized with lack of menstrual periods from three to sixmonths during a women's reproductive years (Burger et al, 1985;Soleymani et al, 2014).Short or tremendously small periods are termed as hypomenorrhea while those which last more than 7 days are called hypermenorrhea (Fraser et al, 2007). This cycle can be reformed/changed by using contraceptives ( oral or injectable) (Klump et al, 2013).…”

Influence of ovarian manipulation on reproductive endocrinology in polycystic ovarian syndrome and regularly cycling women

“…The reason for this difference is unclear. In patients with PCOS the LH pulse frequency and amplitude are relatively high (31,32,33,34). Potentially, the LH frequency and amplitude are 'normalized' after ovarian manipulation, thus restoring it to the normal (non-PCOS) situation.…”

Aspectos neuroendócrinos na síndrome dos ovários policísticos

“…Esta condição é caracteristicamente expressa por concentrações séricas elevadas de LH ou da relação LH/FSH tanto em condições basais quanto em resposta à administração de GnRH ou seus agonistas (12)(13)(14). O hiperestrogenismo, gerado pela conversão periférica dos androgênios secretados pelo ovário, contribui para esta situação, promovendo um aumento adicional na sensibilidade hipofisária ao GnRH (12,15).…”