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Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent endocrine–metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. Diagnosis is based on the evidence-based international guideline 2018 and the Rotterdam Consensus to classify PCOS phenotypes. This study aims to characterize the biodemographic, clinical, metabolic, and reproductive variables and their relationship with PCOS phenotypes in a population from the Ecuadorian Andes. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-random consecutive sample of 92 women who attended the outpatient gynecology and endocrinology clinic at the Hospital of the Technical University of Loja (UTPL)—Santa Inés, Loja, Ecuador, between January 2022 and July 2023. Descriptive statistics, mean calculations, standard deviation, parametric and nonparametric tests, odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (CI), and p-values were employed. Results: The average age was 22 ± 3.4 years, with a predominantly mestizo, urban, single, highly educated, and medium–high socioeconomic level population. It was identified that phenotypes A + B are at a higher risk of developing oligomenorrhea and hypertriglyceridemia compared to phenotypes C + D, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in terms of reproductive variables, phenotypes A + B exhibit a significantly higher frequency of elevated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) compared to phenotypes C + D, also with statistical significance (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The classical phenotypes A and B of PCOS are the most common in Ecuadorian Andean women and carry a higher risk of insulin resistance, anovulation, metabolic disorders, and elevated triglyceride levels compared to phenotypes C and D. Ethnic diversity and sociocultural habits influence the prevalence and clinical manifestations of these phenotypes.

Hintergrund: Die Female Athlete Triad ist ein Symptomkomplex bestehend aus einer verringerten Energieverfügbarkeit, einer Menstruationsdysfunktion und einer verminderter Knochendichte, der sich gehäuft bei jungen Laufsportlerinnen zeigt. Ziel: Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, zu eruieren, ob eine primäre oder sekundäre Amenorrhoe, eine Oligomenorrhoe, eine verminderte Knochendichte oder der leistungsorientierte Ausdauerlaufsport bei jungen Athletinnen bis zum 25. Lebensjahr ein Risikofaktor für Knochenstressverletzungen darstellt. Methodik: Anhand einer systematischen Literaturrecherche in den Datenbanken Pubmed, Cinahl Complete und Medline via Ovid wurden fünf relevante Studien mittels definierter Einschlusskriterien gefunden und mit dem Beurteilungsraster von Law et al. (1998) kritisch gewürdigt. Ergebnisse: Eine Form von Menstruationsdysfunktionen und eine tiefe Knochenmineraldichte konnten mehrheitlich als risikoerhöhende Faktoren für Knochenstressverletzungen erfasst werden. Der Ausdauerlaufsport allein zeigt keinen signifikanten Zusammenhang zum Verletzungsrisiko, während die Resultate zum Trainingsausmass widersprüchlich sind. Schlussfolgerung: Einzelne wie auch Kombinationen der untersuchten Parameter können zu Knochenstressverletzungen führen. In der Praxis sollte der Schwerpunkt auf die Aufklärung und Primärprävention der Risikofaktoren liegen, um vor allem auch bei verletzten Ausdauerläuferinnen versteckte Faktoren der Female Athlete Triad aufzudecken., Background: The female athlete triad is a medical condition often observed in young female runners that involves three components: low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction and low bone mineral density. Aim: The aim of this paper is to investigate whether primary or secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, low bone mineral density, a high training volume and endurance distance running are considered significant risk factors for the development of bone stress injuries. Methods: A literature research with predefined keywords was performed in Pubmed, Cinahl Complete and Medline via Ovid. Five studies were critically appraised using the evaluation framework by Law et al. (1998). Results: Mostly, a type of menstrual dysfunction and low bone density were significant risk factors for bone stress injuries. Endurance distance running was not significantly associated with a higher injury risk. Results regarding a high training volume were contradictory. Conclusion: Single and combined variables can increase the risk of bone stress injuries in female athletes. The focus should be on education and prevention of risk factors. Hidden factors of the female athlete triad should be uncovered in injured athletes.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is a complex disease in which genetic, endocrine, environmental, and behavioral factors are intertwined, giving rise to a heterogeneous phenotype with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological characteristics. Polycystic ovary syndrome affects women’s health and their quality of life across the life course. During different life stages, the polycystic ovary syndrome phenotype can change, which requires a personalized diagnostic approach and treatment. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a major cause of anovulatory infertility; this disorder is also associated with hirsutism and acne. Diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome during adolescence is challenging because the polycystic ovary syndrome criteria include normal physiological events that occur during puberty. With increasing age, the syndrome evolves from a reproductive disease to a more metabolic disorder. Along with metabolic disturbances, including insulin resistance and abnormalities of energy expenditure, polycystic ovary syndrome is recognized as a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in later life. Moreover, there is evidence for familial clustering of endocrine and metabolic features of polycystic ovary syndrome. Environmental factors such as diet and obesity appear to contribute to the phenotype. Treatment should be tailored to the specific concerns and needs of the individual patient and involves

Objective: Insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, sympathetic dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammation may act together in a vicious cycle in the pathophysiology of PCOS. However, the inter-relationships of these components are not fully understood. We aimed to study these mechanisms in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Participants and methods: Premenopausal women with PCOS (Rotterdam diagnostic criteria) and without PCOS were recruited from a community setting into a cross-sectional substudy within a randomized control trial. Insulin resistance (fasting insulin and glucose), hyperandrogenism (testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG] and Free Androgen Index [FAI]), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and markers of chronic low-grade inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and high molecular weight adiponectin [HMW-adiponectin]) were measured. Result(s): Forty-nine women with PCOS (mean age 30 +/- 6 mean BMI 29 +/- 5) and 23 controls (mean age 29 +/- 8 mean BMI 33 +/- 7) with included in this analysis. MSNA and testosterone level were most significantly associated with PCOS status, after adjustment for age and BMI. In women with PCOS, markers of sympathetic activity correlated inversely with HMW-adiponectin and HMW-adiponectin correlated inversely with FAI. Testosterone and FAI both correlated positively with insulin resistance in women PCOS. Conclusion(s): Sympathetic dysfunction and hyperandrogenism are significantly associated with PCOS. Chronic low-grade inflammation potentially mediates the effect of sympathetic dysfunction on hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance.Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often delayed, partially due to the diversity of presenting symptoms, resulting in frustration for patients. GPs play a vital role in the early diagnosis of PCOS and timely referral of patients, and in the prevention and management of long-term complications.Copyright © MedicineToday 2017.

Objective: Insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, sympathetic dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammation may act together in a vicious cycle in the pathophysiology of PCOS. However, the inter-relationships of these components are not fully understood. We aimed to study these mechanisms in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Participants and methods: Premenopausal women with PCOS (Rotterdam diagnostic criteria) and without PCOS were recruited from a community setting into a cross-sectional substudy within a randomized control trial. Insulin resistance (fasting insulin and glucose), hyperandrogenism (testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG] and Free Androgen Index [FAI]), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and markers of chronic low-grade inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] and high molecular weight adiponectin [HMW-adiponectin]) were measured. Result(s): Forty-nine women with PCOS (mean age 30 +/- 6 mean BMI 29 +/- 5) and 23 controls (mean age 29 +/- 8 mean BMI 33 +/- 7) with included in this analysis. MSNA and testosterone level were most significantly associated with PCOS status, after adjustment for age and BMI. In women with PCOS, markers of sympathetic activity correlated inversely with HMW-adiponectin and HMW-adiponectin correlated inversely with FAI. Testosterone and FAI both correlated positively with insulin resistance in women PCOS. Conclusion(s): Sympathetic dysfunction and hyperandrogenism are significantly associated with PCOS. Chronic low-grade inflammation potentially mediates the effect of sympathetic dysfunction on hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance.Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often delayed, partially due to the diversity of presenting symptoms, resulting in frustration for patients. GPs play a vital role in the early diagnosis of PCOS and timely referral of patients, and in the prevention and management of long-term complications.Copyright © MedicineToday 2017.

Introduktion: Många kvinnor påverkas negativt av fysiska och psykiska besvär under sin menstruationscykel. Det råder idag stor kunskapsbrist om hur subkliniska menstruella besvär som kraftig menstruationssmärta, riklig menstruationsblödning, premenstruellt syndrom, premenstruellt dysforiskt syndrom, oregelbunden menstruation och menstruationsbortfall kan lindras utan att använda läkemedel. Fysisk aktivitet och kost har visats ge stora hälsoeffekter vid många sjukdomar och besvär och därför var syftet att undersöka om det även ger positiva hälsoeffekter vid menstruella besvär. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att studera om fysisk aktivitet och kost kan minska fysiska och psykiska subkliniska menstruella besvär och därigenom ge ökat välmående. Metod: Sökt i Pubmed med sökorden subkliniska besvär i relation till fysisk aktivitet respektive kost hos fertila tränade och otränade kvinnor utan inverkan av hormonella preventivmedel. Resultat: Studien har visat vissa belägg för att fysisk aktivitet och kost kan lindra några subkliniska menstruella besvär. Premenstruellt syndrom (PMS) kan främst lindras genom lugna, meditativa aktiviteter. Vidare sågs god effekt på PMS av mindre men fler måltider med komplexa kolhydrater, samt intag av vitaminer och mineraler. Yoga har även visats minska menstruationssmärta, och allmän fysisk aktivitet har visat antydan till att förbättra menstruationens regelbundenhet. För att undvika oregelbunden menstruation eller menstruationsuppehåll behövs adekvat energiintag. Övriga subkliniska menstruella besvär saknade tydliga rekommendationer. Konklusion: Studien har visat att fysisk aktivitet och kost kan ha positiva effekter på vissa menstruella subkliniska besvär. För kvinnor med PMS verkar lugna, meditativa former av fysisk aktivitet kunna lindra syndromet. Yoga och fysisk aktivitet har även visats minska dysmenorré. Tillräckligt energiintag är essentiellt för att undvika oregelbunden och utebliven menstruation. Ytterligare studier behöv, Background: Many women experience physical and psychological symptoms during their menstrual cycle. Research is scarce about how to ease subclinical menstrual disorders like dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea without using medicines. Physical activity and diet is proved to have positive effects on several diseases and we therefore wanted to see if positive effects also could be seen on subclinical menstrual disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if physical activity and diet could reduce physical and psychological subclinical menstrual disorders and lead to a better wellbeing. Method: Searching for subclinical menstrual disorders in relation to physical activity and diet in fertile, active and inactive women without the use of hormonal contraceptives was done using Pubmed. Results: The study has shown that physical activity and diet could reduce some of the problems associated with subclinical menstrual disorders. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) could be eased through calm, meditative activities. Positive effects could be seen when eating more often but smaller meals containing complex carbohydrates and by taking additional vitamins and minerals. Yoga has been proved to reduce menstrual pain and there’s also an indication that physical activity could improve the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Adequate energy intake is needed to avoid oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. No clear recommendations were found for the remaining subclinical menstrual disorders. Conclusion: The study has shown that physical activity and diet have positive effects on some subclinical menstrual disorders. Symptoms of PMS could be eased by calm, meditative activities. Yoga and physical activity have been shown to reduce dysmenorrhea. Adequate energy intake is essential to avoid oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. Further research is needed to give general recommendations.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and one of its distinguishing characteristics, oligomenorrhea, have both been associated with ovarian cancer risk in some but not all studies. However, these associations have been rarely examined by ovarian cancer histotypes, which may explain the lack of clear associations reported in previous studies.Methods: We analyzed data from 14 case-control studies including 16,594 women with invasive ovarian cancer (n = 13,719) or borderline ovarian disease (n = 2,875) and 17,718 controls. Adjusted study-specific ORs were calculated using logistic regression and combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Pooled histotype-specific ORs were calculated using polytomous logistic regression.Results: Women reporting menstrual cycle length >35 days had decreased risk of invasive ovarian cancer compared with women reporting cycle length ≤35 days [OR = 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58-0.84]. Decreased risk of invasive ovarian cancer was also observed among women who reported irregular menstrual cycles compared with women with regular cycles (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.76-0.89). No significant association was observed between self-reported PCOS and invasive ovarian cancer risk (OR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.65-1.15). There was a decreased risk of all individual invasive histotypes for women with menstrual cycle length >35 days, but no association with serous borderline tumors (Pheterogeneity = 0.006). Similarly, we observed decreased risks of most invasive histotypes among women with irregular cycles, but an increased risk of borderline serous and mucinous tumors (Pheterogeneity < 0.0001).Conclusions: Our results suggest that menstrual cycle characteristics influence ovarian cancer risk differentially based on histotype.Impact: These results highlight the importance of examining ovarian cancer risk factors associations by histologic subtype. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(2); 174-82. ©2017 AACR.

Introduktion: Många kvinnor påverkas negativt av fysiska och psykiska besvär under sin menstruationscykel. Det råder idag stor kunskapsbrist om hur subkliniska menstruella besvär som kraftig menstruationssmärta, riklig menstruationsblödning, premenstruellt syndrom, premenstruellt dysforiskt syndrom, oregelbunden menstruation och menstruationsbortfall kan lindras utan att använda läkemedel. Fysisk aktivitet och kost har visats ge stora hälsoeffekter vid många sjukdomar och besvär och därför var syftet att undersöka om det även ger positiva hälsoeffekter vid menstruella besvär. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att studera om fysisk aktivitet och kost kan minska fysiska och psykiska subkliniska menstruella besvär och därigenom ge ökat välmående. Metod: Sökt i Pubmed med sökorden subkliniska besvär i relation till fysisk aktivitet respektive kost hos fertila tränade och otränade kvinnor utan inverkan av hormonella preventivmedel. Resultat: Studien har visat vissa belägg för att fysisk aktivitet och kost kan lindra några subkliniska menstruella besvär. Premenstruellt syndrom (PMS) kan främst lindras genom lugna, meditativa aktiviteter. Vidare sågs god effekt på PMS av mindre men fler måltider med komplexa kolhydrater, samt intag av vitaminer och mineraler. Yoga har även visats minska menstruationssmärta, och allmän fysisk aktivitet har visat antydan till att förbättra menstruationens regelbundenhet. För att undvika oregelbunden menstruation eller menstruationsuppehåll behövs adekvat energiintag. Övriga subkliniska menstruella besvär saknade tydliga rekommendationer. Konklusion: Studien har visat att fysisk aktivitet och kost kan ha positiva effekter på vissa menstruella subkliniska besvär. För kvinnor med PMS verkar lugna, meditativa former av fysisk aktivitet kunna lindra syndromet. Yoga och fysisk aktivitet har även visats minska dysmenorré. Tillräckligt energiintag är essentiellt för att undvika oregelbunden och utebliven menstruation. Ytterligare studier behöv, Background: Many women experience physical and psychological symptoms during their menstrual cycle. Research is scarce about how to ease subclinical menstrual disorders like dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea without using medicines. Physical activity and diet is proved to have positive effects on several diseases and we therefore wanted to see if positive effects also could be seen on subclinical menstrual disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if physical activity and diet could reduce physical and psychological subclinical menstrual disorders and lead to a better wellbeing. Method: Searching for subclinical menstrual disorders in relation to physical activity and diet in fertile, active and inactive women without the use of hormonal contraceptives was done using Pubmed. Results: The study has shown that physical activity and diet could reduce some of the problems associated with subclinical menstrual disorders. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) could be eased through calm, meditative activities. Positive effects could be seen when eating more often but smaller meals containing complex carbohydrates and by taking additional vitamins and minerals. Yoga has been proved to reduce menstrual pain and there’s also an indication that physical activity could improve the regularity of the menstrual cycle. Adequate energy intake is needed to avoid oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. No clear recommendations were found for the remaining subclinical menstrual disorders. Conclusion: The study has shown that physical activity and diet have positive effects on some subclinical menstrual disorders. Symptoms of PMS could be eased by calm, meditative activities. Yoga and physical activity have been shown to reduce dysmenorrhea. Adequate energy intake is essential to avoid oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. Further research is needed to give general recommendations.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone, mainly secreted by lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Recent studies have shown it may also be produced by many extrapituitary cells. Its well-recognized PRL plays an important role in lactation during pregnancy, but it is involved in other biological functions such as angiogenesis, immunoregulation and osmoregulation. Hyperprolactinemia is a typical condition producing reproductive dysfunction in both sexes, resulting in hypogonadism, infertility and galactorrhea. It may be also asymptomatic. Lactotroph adenomas (prolactinoma) is one of the most common cause of PRL excess, representing approximately 40% of all pituitary tumors. Several other conditions should be excluded before a clear diagnosis of hyperprolactinemia is made. Hyperprolactinemia may be secondary to pharmacological or pathological interruption of hypothalamic-pituitary dopaminergic pathways or idiopathic. Stress, renal failure or hypothyroidism are other frequent conditions to exclude in patients with hyperprolactinemia. We will review biochemical characteristics and physiological functions of that hormone. Clinical and pharmacological approach to hyperprolactinemia will also be discussed.

Objective Women affected by PCOS and psoriasis are more likely to have insulin-resistance, hyperinsulinemia, reduced HDL cholesterol levels and a more severe degree of skin disease than those with psoriasis alone. The mechanism underlying this association between PCOS and psoriasis is currently unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the features of psoriasis and the psoriasis severity scores in the different PCOS phenotypes and in age and body mass index (BMI)-matched psoriatic control patients. Study design A cross-sectional study was performed on 150 psoriatic patients: 94 PCOS and 56 age- and BMI-matched controls. PCOS patients were diagnosed and divided into four phenotypes according to Rotterdam criteria: A - patients with complete phenotype with hyperandrogenism (H) plus oligoamenorrhea (O) plus polycystic ovary (PCO) on ultrasound examination; B - patients with H plus O (without PCO); C - patients with H plus PCO (ovulatory phenotype); D - patients with O plus PCO (without H). The patient's Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) as well as the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) were calculated. A PASI score ≥10 was correlated with common indicator of severe disease. A PGA ≥4 was considered as a condition of moderate to severe disease. Results Among the four phenotypes investigated, the group with complete phenotype (H plus O plus PCO) had a higher prevalence of patients with patient's PASI ≥10 compared to controls (Odds Ratio (OR) 4.71, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.59-13.95). The group with O plus PCO had a higher prevalence of patients with PGA ≥4 compared to controls (OR 26.79, 95% CI 3.40-211.02) while the ovulatory group had a lower prevalence of patients with PGA ≥4 (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.51). Conclusions The ovulatory phenotype displays a milder psoriasis form than other phenotypes while the phenotypes with oligoamenorrhea presented higher severity scores of disease than other phenotypes and control group.

Background: Some studies suggest that the clinical parameter "amenorrhea" is insufficient to define the menopausal status of women treated with chemotherapy or tamoxifen. In this study, we investigated and compared the ovarian function defined either by clinical or biological parameters in pre-menopausal breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen administered as adjuvant therapy. Materials and Methods: Between 1999 and 2003, 138 premenopausal patients consecutively treated for early breast cancer were included. Sixty-eight received tamoxifen in monotherapy as the only adjuvant systemic treatment (Group I) and 70 were treated with tamoxifen after adjuvant chemotherapy (Group II). All patients had a confirmed premenopausal status based on clinical parameters and hormonal values at study entry. They were followed prospectively every 3 months for 3 years: menses data, physical examination and blood tests (LH, FSH, 17-beta-estradiol). Vaginal ultrasonography was carried out every 6 months. After 3 years, prospective evaluation was completed and monitoring of ovarian function was performed as usual in our institution (1x/year). All data were retrospectively evaluated in 2011. Results: Three patients were excluded from the study in group I and 2 were excluded in group II. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to clinical data, i.e. menses patterns. These patterns were assessed by questionnaires. a: Regular menses (>10 cycles/year) b: Oligomenorrhea (5 to 9 cycles/year) c: Severe oligomenorrhea (1 to 4 cycles/year) d: Complete amenorrhea Estrogen levels did not appear to have any impact on disease-free survival rates after 3 or 8 years. FSH values were also documented and analyzed. They exhibited the same profile as estradiol values. Conclusions: Amenorrhea is an insufficient parameter to define menopausal status in patients receiving tamoxifen. Low estradiol levels must be coupled with other biological parameters to characterize endocrine status. These data a

Premature surgical menopause is becoming increasingly common in the setting of both benign and malignant disease. These women are at an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, cognitive dysfunction and metabolic bone disease. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with premature surgical menopause due to bilateral oophorectomy, following ovarian torsion occurring on two separate occasions, one episode during her second trimester of pregnancy. The decision regarding hormone replacement therapy in this lady was complicated due to the presence of Factor V Leiden heterozygosity. A brief discussion and review of the literature follow. © 2011 International Menopause Society.

Current evidence suggests that the acquisition of female reproductive capacity and the maintenance of mature reproductive function are related processes transcriptionally regulated by gene networks operating within the neuroendocrine brain. One of these genes, termed enhanced at puberty1(EAP1), encodes an upstream regulator of these processes. Selective inhibition of EAP1 expression in discrete regions of the rat and nonhuman primate (NHP) hypothalamus, via targeted delivery of RNA interference, either disrupts (rats) or abolishes (monkeys) reproductive cycles. The striking loss of menstrual cyclicity resulting from knocking down hypothalamic EAP1 expression suggests that diminished EAP1 function may contribute to disorders of the menstrual cycle of neuroendocrine origin. Here we show that a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region of EAP1 gene is associated with increased incidence of amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea in NHP. In the presence of the risk allele, binding of the transcription factor mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) to its recognition site contained within the polymorphic sequence in the monkey EAP1 promoter is reduced. The risk allele also diminishes the increase in EAP1 promoter activity elicited by TGFbeta1, a peptide that activates a SMAD3/4-mediated signaling pathway to regulate gene transcription. These findings indicate that common genetic variation in the EAP1 locus increases the susceptibility of NHP to loss/disruption of menstrual cyclicity. They also raise the possibility that polymorphisms in EAP1 may increase the risk of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea in humans. Copyright © 2012 by The Endocrine Society.

Current evidence suggests that the acquisition of female reproductive capacity and the maintenance of mature reproductive function are related processes transcriptionally regulated by gene networks operating within the neuroendocrine brain. One of these genes, termed enhanced at puberty1(EAP1), encodes an upstream regulator of these processes. Selective inhibition of EAP1 expression in discrete regions of the rat and nonhuman primate (NHP) hypothalamus, via targeted delivery of RNA interference, either disrupts (rats) or abolishes (monkeys) reproductive cycles. The striking loss of menstrual cyclicity resulting from knocking down hypothalamic EAP1 expression suggests that diminished EAP1 function may contribute to disorders of the menstrual cycle of neuroendocrine origin. Here we show that a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region of EAP1 gene is associated with increased incidence of amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea in NHP. In the presence of the risk allele, binding of the transcription factor mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) to its recognition site contained within the polymorphic sequence in the monkey EAP1 promoter is reduced. The risk allele also diminishes the increase in EAP1 promoter activity elicited by TGFbeta1, a peptide that activates a SMAD3/4-mediated signaling pathway to regulate gene transcription. These findings indicate that common genetic variation in the EAP1 locus increases the susceptibility of NHP to loss/disruption of menstrual cyclicity. They also raise the possibility that polymorphisms in EAP1 may increase the risk of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea in humans. Copyright © 2012 by The Endocrine Society.

Premature surgical menopause is becoming increasingly common in the setting of both benign and malignant disease. These women are at an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, cognitive dysfunction and metabolic bone disease. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with premature surgical menopause due to bilateral oophorectomy, following ovarian torsion occurring on two separate occasions, one episode during her second trimester of pregnancy. The decision regarding hormone replacement therapy in this lady was complicated due to the presence of Factor V Leiden heterozygosity. A brief discussion and review of the literature follow. © 2011 International Menopause Society.

Background: Oligomenorrhea was associated with more asthma (Respiratory Health in Northern Europe study), but a possible association with lung function has not been investigated previously. Objective: To investigate whether oligomenorrhea was related to lung function and asthma, and whether body mass index and physical activity modified associations. Methods: Women age 28 to 44 years (n = 1631) participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey were included. Women who were taking exogenous sex hormones, were pregnant, or had recently given birth were excluded. Results: Long or irregular menstrual cycles were reported by 313 women (19%). Oligomenorrhea was significantly associated with more asthma symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.29-2.40), allergic asthma (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.43-4.23), and lower forced vital capacity (FVC; adjusted difference, 63 mL; 95% CI, -124 to -1). When excluding women using asthma medication, very lean women, or women exercising daily, these associations remained significant. Effects of oligomenorrhea were additive to those of body mass index (BMI) on asthma and FVC. Asthma symptoms increased significantly with BMI. FVC and FEV1 increased with BMI until 25 kg/m2 and thereafter decreased with increasing BMI. Excluding women exercising daily, asthma symptoms increased significantly with decreasing physical activity (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.001-1.19) per category of physical activity) independently of oligomenorrhea. Among women exercising daily, oligomenorrhea predicted very high risk for asthma symptoms (OR, 12.6; 95% CI, 3.7-43). Conclusion: Women with oligomenorrhea have reduced lung function and more asthma, particularly allergic asthma, independent of BMI and physical activity. Airways pathology may have not only a hormonal but also a metabolic component. Clinical implications: Women with oligomenorrhea should be investigated with regard to asthma and lung function. Underlying metabolic disturbance should be considered

Oligomenorrhea (menstrual disturbances) and hirsutism (excessive growth of body hair) are typical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, a common endocrine disorder with long-term health risks among fertile-age women. Associations between body size development and polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms in a cohort design (528 symptomatic and 1479 asymptomatic women) and endocrine, metabolic and clinical characteristics of women with self-reported symptoms of oligomenorrhea or hirsutism in a nested case-control design (518 cases and 1036 controls) were investigated in this general population-based study. Gynecologic ultrasonographic examinations were performed in 196 cases and 67 controls to assess the morphology of the ovaries and its relationship to biochemical and clinical parameters. The study population was derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, which included all births with expected birth dates in 1966 in Northern Finland and is well representative of the general female population. Polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms in adulthood were associated with obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, in adolescence and in adulthood, but not with birth weight or being small for gestational age. Hormonal changes typical of polycystic ovary syndrome, i.e. higher circulating concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin and lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), were detected in women with self-reported symptoms of oligomenorrhea and/or hirsutism compared with the controls. Less favorable metabolic cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles, higher body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and triglyceride and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, were detected in women with symptoms, being the most severe among women who reported both hirsutism and oligomenorrhea. Unfavorable characteristics were pronounced in the presence of overweight or obesity. W

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a life-changing diagnosis, with profound physical and psychological consequences. Despite the description of different genetic, immune and iatrogenic factors of POI, the etiology of most cases of this disease are unexplained, and optimal management strategies are still unclear. Recent data showed that POI may have a long period of oligomenorrhea before the fully developed form (complete ovarian failure stage), with the occurrence of amenorrhea and climacteric symptoms. The main problem in the recognition of early stages of POI is the lack of proper diagnostic criteria. Patients with an undiagnosed occult form of POI may present with menstrual irregularities, unexplained infertility or repeated IVF failures. We evaluated 23 patients with unexplained oligomenorrhea and/or infertility. After a proper evaluation of these patients, a low ovarian reserve was identified, and an occult form of POI was diagnosed. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.