Menopause Transition: Annual Changes in Serum Hormonal Patterns over the Menstrual Cycle in Women during a Nine-Year Period Prior to Menopause

Abstract To examine the hormonal characteristics of menstrual cycles in healthy women approaching menopause, serum hormone profiles were investigated annually in this longitudinal study of 13 healthy women between 4 and 9 yr before menopause and the year of the menopause. Serum FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, total inhibin, inhibins A and B, and prolactin were determined in blood samples collected annually three times weekly for 4 wk beginning with the onset of menses. Menstrual bleeding diaries covering this 4- to 9-yr period were also collected allowing the prospective identification of the final menstrual period. A change in serum hormone patterns was observed in cycles approaching menopause, exemplified by an increasing number of cycles of prolonged length with a prolonged follicular phase resulting in a failure to detect a luteal phase rise in serum progesterone within the 4-wk collection period. These prolonged cycles (designated B cycles based on a previous work) were analyzed separately and compared with the remaining ovulatory (D) cycles. No B cycles were identified in any women earlier than 27 cycles from menopause. The proportion of B cycles increased as menopause approached, reaching 62% in the last 10 cycles. The proportion of D cycles decreased accordingly. The B cycles during the initial 4-wk collection period were characterized by elevated FSH, LH, FSH/inhibin A and FSH/inhibin B ratios, and longer duration, although cycle length/subject was not significantly different presumably due to the small number of B cycles. The D cycles showed no changes in hormonal profiles over the 4- to 9-yr time period. These data indicate that there is a time-related change in the character of menstrual cycles as menopause approaches, with an increasing proportion of cycles observed with prolonged follicular phases that may either be delayed ovulatory cycles or anovulatory cycles. The increase in the proportion of B cycles with elevated early follicular phase FSH levels and low inhibin/FSH ratios toward menopause provides a basis for the apparent early increase in serum FSH and decrease in serum inhibins observed previously in studies of the menopause transition based on sampling confined to the follicular phase only. The data amplify and clarify current concepts of the endocrine basis of the menopause transition.

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Attempts to develop a simple, objective test for oestrus in sows

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600055799 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

pp. 129-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ruth Henderson ◽

A. Stolba ◽

M. Döbeli ◽

H. Kündig

Keyword(s):

Body Temperature ◽

Back Pressure ◽

Objective Test ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Prominent Ear ◽

Urine Sampling ◽

Pressure Test ◽

Serum Hormone ◽

Collection Period ◽

Sexual State

SUMMARYTo evaluate the accuracy of various techniques for determining the sexual state of sows, four multiparous Landrace sows were housed in stalls 2–5 weeks after weaning. Catheters were inserted under anaesthetic into a prominent ear vein on each sow. Four days later blood and urine sampling commenced, along with other measurements to assess the oestrous state of the animals.Oestrus was detected in all four sows and so were corresponding oestradiol·17β peaks (22–49 pg/ml) in serum of the three sows from which blood was successfully sampled during the complete 25·day collection period. Serum progesterone concentrations were highest between days — 5 and — 12 (day 0 = 1st day of standing heat) (peak values of 33·1–58·2 ng/ml), with values of 3·55 ng/ml or less on day 0. Urinary oestrogen was less well correlated with oestrous state than were serum hormone concentrations, but progesterone derivatives in urine corresponded well to serum progesterone with peaks between days —5 and —9. Vulval redness, vulval size, social interest and the occurrence of flehmen were markedly greater during the oestrous period than at other times in the cycle. Body temperature, vaginal pH, the presence of vaginal mucus and behavioural manifestations of oestrus (with the exception of back pressure test) were less well correlated with sexual state. A combination of vulval colour and size, back pressure test, a more detailed study of behaviour and possibly with urinary progesterone derivatives, should give the best indication of the incidence of oestrus in sows.

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Hypercapnic blood pressure response is greater during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1996.81.5.2142 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 81 (5) ◽

pp. 2142-2146 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

N. Edwards ◽

I. Wilcox ◽

O. J. Polo ◽

C. E. Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Blood Pressure Response ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Pressure Response ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Blood Pressure Responses

Edwards, N., I. Wilcox, O. J. Polo, and C. E. Sullivan.Hypercapnic blood pressure response is greater during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(5): 2142–2146, 1996.—We investigated the cardiovascular responses to acute hypercapnia during the menstrual cycle. Eleven female subjects with regular menstrual cycles performed hypercapnic rebreathing tests during the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. Ventilatory and cardiovascular variables were recorded breath by breath. Serum progesterone and estradiol were measured on each occasion. Serum progesterone was higher during the luteal [50.4 ± 9.6 (SE) nmol/l] than during the follicular phase (2.1 ± 0.7 nmol/l; P < 0.001), but serum estradiol did not differ (follicular phase, 324 ± 101 pmol/l; luteal phase, 162 ± 71 pmol/l; P = 0.61). The systolic blood pressure responses during hypercapnia were 2.0 ± 0.3 and 4.0 ± 0.5 mmHg/Torr (1 Torr = 1 mmHg rise in end-tidal [Formula: see text]) during the follicular and luteal phases, respectively, of the menstrual cycle ( P < 0.01). The diastolic blood pressure responses were 1.1 ± 0.2 and 2.1 ± 0.3 mmHg/Torr during the follicular and luteal phases, respectively ( P < 0.002). Heart rate responses did not differ during the luteal (1.7 ± 0.3 beats ⋅ min−1 ⋅ Torr−1) and follicular phases (1.4 ± 0.3 beats ⋅ min−1 ⋅ Torr−1; P = 0.59). These data demonstrate a greater pressor response during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle that may be related to higher serum progesterone concentrations.

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Inhibition of folliculogenesis in the monkey following early follicular phase administration of an LRH agonist

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1060538 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 106 (4) ◽

pp. 538-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

John W. Wilks

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Rhesus Monkeys ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Uterine Bleeding ◽

Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Serum Lh ◽

Early Follicular Phase ◽

The Mean ◽

Cessation Of Treatment

Abstract. This study was undertaken to determine if early follicular phase administration of a synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LRH) agonist would produce luteal phase defects in the monkey. (D-His-(im-Bzl)6,Pro9]LRH n-ethylamide was administered to groups of rhesus monkeys on days 1–3 of the menstrual cycle. Two responses were observed: a) anovulatory menstrual cycles of less than 14 days duration, and b) ovulatory menstrual cycles characterized by unusually long follicular phases. All 4 monkeys with shortened menstrual cycles had prominent increases in serum gonadotrophin and oestradiol concentrations during treatment with the LRH agonist; early menses in these animals was attributed to uterine bleeding upon oestrogen withdrawal. Serum FSH concentrations declined, serum LH concentrations were unaltered, and only 2 of 8 monkeys had elevations in serum oestradiol during ovulatory menstrual cycles. The mean interval from cessation of treatment with the LRH agonist to the next preovulatory gonadotrophin surge was 21.5 ± 3.2 days in ovulatory menstrual cycles. Corpus luteum function was normal following treatment with the LRH agonist in ovulatory cycles. The results indicate that both the long and short menstrual cycles observed following early follicular phase administration of the LRH agonist to monkeys can be attributed to a profound inhibition in follicle recruitment. [D-His(im-Bzl)6,Pro9]LRH n-ethylamide did not alter corpus luteum function in the monkey.

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Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes from Small Antral Follicles During the Early Follicular Phase of Menstrual Cycles in Rhesus Monkeys Yield Oocytes That Reinitiate Meiosis and Fertilize In Vitro1

Biology of Reproduction ◽

10.1095/biolreprod.110.084418 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 525-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Marina C. Peluffo ◽

Susan L. Barrett ◽

Richard L. Stouffer ◽

Jon D. Hennebold ◽

Mary B. Zelinski

Keyword(s):

Rhesus Monkeys ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Antral Follicles ◽

Early Follicular Phase

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The Role of Transient Hyperprolactinaemia in the Short Luteal Phase

Scottish Medical Journal ◽

10.1177/003693308002500451 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. S75-S81

Author(s):

J. R. T. Coutts ◽

R. Fleming ◽

M. C. Macnaughton

Keyword(s):

Luteal Phase ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Cycle Period ◽

Plasma Analysis ◽

Steroid Secretion ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Infertile Women ◽

Late Luteal Phase ◽

Early Follicular Phase

Daily plasma analysis of complete menstrual cycles from infertile women (n = 32) revealed transient hyperprolactinaemia in a significant number in comparison with normally cycling women. The prolactin elevations occurred for variable durations at different stages of the cycle. Transient hyperprolactinaemia occurring at mid-cycle was associated with reduced late luteal phase steroid levels and short luteal phases. When the prolactin elevations occurred at other times they were unrelated to ovarian steroid levels. Treatment of patients with short luteal phases with bromocriptine (2.5 mg/day) normalised prolactin levels but also reduced gonadotrophins. The net result of these changes was a normalisation of the length of the luteal phase which was now deficient in steroid secretion. To alleviate these problems the treatments proposed for the short luteal phase are either bromocriptine (2.5 mg/day) for 7 days over the mid-cycle period only or bromocriptine for 7 days at mid-cycle in conjunction with a follicular stimulant in the early follicular phase.

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Physiological variability of fluid-regulation hormones in young women

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1999.86.3.1092 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 86 (3) ◽

pp. 1092-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Nina S. Stachenfeld ◽

Loretta DiPietro ◽

Cheryl A. Kokoszka ◽

Celso Silva ◽

David L. Keefe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Plasma Renin ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Menstrual Phase ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Physiological Variability ◽

Fluid Regulation ◽

Early Follicular Phase ◽

The Mean ◽

Midluteal Phase

We tested the physiological reliability of plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma concentrations of arginine vasopressin (P[AVP]), aldosterone (P[ALD]), and atrial natriuretic peptide (P[ANP]) in the early follicular phase and midluteal phases over the course of two menstrual cycles ( n = 9 women, ages 25 ± 1 yr). The reliability (Cronbach’s α ≥0.80) of these hormones within a given phase of the cycle was tested 1) at rest, 2) after 2.5 h of dehydrating exercise, and 3) during a rehydration period. The mean hormone concentrations were similar within both the early follicular and midluteal phase tests; and the mean concentrations of P[ALD] and PRA for the three test conditions were significantly greater during the midluteal compared with the early follicular phase. Although Cronbach’s α for resting and recovery P[ANP] were high (0.80 and 0.87, respectively), the resting and rehydration values for P[AVP], P[ALD], and PRA were variable between trials for the follicular (α from 0.49 to 0.55) and the luteal phase (α from 0.25 to 0.66). Physiological reliability was better after dehydration for P[AVP] and PRA but remained low for P[ALD]. Although resting and recovery P[AVP], P[ALD], and PRA were not consistent within a given menstrual phase, the differences in the concentrations of these hormones between the different menstrual phases far exceeded the variability within the phases, indicating that the low within-phase reliability does not prevent the detection of menstrual phase-related differences in these hormonal variables.

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Progesterone increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 emission in nonmenopausal women

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00389.2010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 300 (3) ◽

pp. E528-E535 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Daniel A. Kane ◽

Chien-Te Lin ◽

Ethan J. Anderson ◽

Hyo-Bum Kwak ◽

Julie H. Cox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Mitochondrial Function ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance ◽

Early Follicular Phase

The luteal phase of the female menstrual cycle is associated with both 1) elevated serum progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2), and 2) reduced insulin sensitivity. Recently, we demonstrated a link between skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 emission (mEH2O2) and insulin resistance. To determine whether serum levels of P4 and/or E2 are related to mitochondrial function, mEH2O2 and respiratory O2 flux ( Jo2) were measured in permeabilized myofibers from insulin-sensitive (IS, n = 24) and -resistant (IR, n = 8) nonmenopausal women (IR = HOMA-IR > 3.6). Succinate-supported mEH2O2 was more than 50% greater in the IR vs. IS women ( P < 0.05). Interestingly, serum P4 correlated positively with succinate-supported mEH2O2 ( r = 0. 53, P < 0.01). To determine whether P4 or E2 directly affect mitochondrial function, saponin-permeabilized vastus lateralis myofibers biopsied from five nonmenopausal women in the early follicular phase were incubated in P4 (60 nM), E2 (1.4 nM), or both. P4 alone inhibited state 3 Jo2, supported by multisubstrate combination ( P < 0.01). However, E2 alone or in combination with P4 had no effect on Jo2. In contrast, during state 4 respiration, supported by succinate and glycerophosphate, mEH2O2 was increased with P4 alone or in combination with E2 ( P < 0.01). The results suggest that 1) P4 increases mEH2O2 with or without E2; 2) P4 alone inhibits Jo2 but not when E2 is present; and 3) P4 is related to the mEH2O2 previously linked to skeletal muscle insulin resistance.

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Correlation of Serum Level of Progesterone with Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) in Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle

Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal ◽

10.3329/akmmcj.v3i1.10105 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 6-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sultana Rokeya Mannan ◽

Noorjahan Begum

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Young Female ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

Progesterone Level ◽

Elisa Method ◽

Serum Progesterone ◽

Plasma Progesterone ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Medical University

The present study has been carried out to observe the correlation of endogenous serum progesterone level with PEFR during luteal and follicular phases of two consecutive menstrual cycles. This study was conducted on 30 healthy young female volunteers with age ranges of 20- 24 years in the Department of Physiology of Bangladesh Shikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during July, 2005 to June, 2006. Serum progesterone level and PEFR of all subjects during all three phases of menstrual cycles were measured by ELISA method and a portable Spirometer respectively. Plasma progesterone level is highest during luteal phase; which is about 24 fold higher than that at follicular phases. (24.54ng/ml vs 1.4ng/ml). PEFR was positively correlated with progesterone level, but statistically not significant and it was significantly higher during luteal phase than follicular phase. This result indicates that changes in the pulmonary function occurred during different phases of menstrual cycle and this is more marked during luteal phase. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/akmmcj.v3i1.10105 AKMMCJ 2012; 3(1): 6-9

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