scholarly journals Polycystic Ovary-Like Abnormalities (PCO-L) in Women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (11) ◽  
pp. 4236-4243 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Robin ◽  
C. Gallo ◽  
S. Catteau-Jonard ◽  
C. Lefebvre-Maunoury ◽  
P. Pigny ◽  
...  

Context: In the general population, about 30% of asymptomatic women have polycystic ovary-like abnormalities (PCO-L), i.e. polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) at ultrasound and/or increased anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum level. PCOM has also been reported in 30–50% of women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Objective: The aim of this study was to verify whether both PCOM and excessive AMH level indicate PCO-L in FHA and to elucidate its significance. Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis using a database and comparison with a control population. Setting: Subjects received ambulatory care in an academic hospital. Patients: Fifty-eight patients with FHA were compared to 217 control women with nonendocrine infertility and body mass index of less than 25 kg/m2. Interventions: There were no interventions. Main Outcome Measures: We measured serum testosterone, androstenedione, FSH, LH, AMH, and ovarian area values. The antral follicle count (AFC) was used as a binary variable (i.e. negative or positive) because of the evolution of its sensitivity over the time of this study. The ability of these variables (except AFC) to detect PCO-L in both populations was tested by cluster analysis. Results: One cluster (cluster 2) suggesting PCO-L was detected in the control population (n = 52; 24%), whereas two such clusters were observed in the FHA population (n = 22 and n = 6; 38 and 10%; clusters 2 and 3, respectively). Cluster 2 in FHA had similar features of PCO-L as cluster 2 in controls, with higher prevalence of positive AFC (70%) and PCOM (70%), higher values of ovarian area and higher serum AMH (P < 0.0001 for all), and testosterone levels (P < 0.01) than in cluster 1. Cluster 3 in FHA was peculiar, with frankly elevated AMH levels. In the whole population (controls + FHA), PCO-L was significantly associated with lower FSH values (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: PCO-L in FHA is a frequent and usually incidental finding of unclear significance, as in controls. The association of PCO-L with hypothalamic amenorrhea should not lead to a mistaken diagnosis of PCOS.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Amir Pejman Hashemi Taheri ◽  
Behnaz Moradi ◽  
Amir Reza Radmard ◽  
Milad Sanginabadi ◽  
Mostafa Qorbani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Intake of resveratrol has been associated with improved ovarian morphology under in vitro and in the animal models; however, this finding has not been confirmed in trials. The aim of our study was, therefore, to use a placebo-controlled approach with the detailed assessment of the ovarian morphology by applying transvaginal ultrasound to examine the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach in this group of women. Methods: Forty-one women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were randomly assigned (1:1) to 3 months of daily 1000 mg resveratrol or placebo. Random assignment was done by blocked randomisation. Our primary endpoints were the change in the ovarian volume, stromal area and antral follicle count per ovary (FNPO) from the baseline to 3 months. Secondary endpoints were improvement in the distribution of follicles and ovarian echogenicity. Differences between the resveratrol and control groups were evaluated by Chi-square, fisher’s exact test and repeated-measures of ANOVA. Results: The mean age of all participants was 28.61 ± 4.99 years, with the mean BMI of 28.26 ± 5.62 kg/m2. Resveratrol therapy, as compared with placebo, was associated with a significantly higher rate of improvement in the ovarian morphology (p= 0.02). Women who received resveratrol had a more dominant follicle than those getting placebo, with a significant reduction in the ovarian volume (p<0.05). However, the number of FNPO, stromal area, ovarian echogenicity and distribution of follicles were not significantly altered (P>0.05). Conclusions: Treatment with resveratrol significantly reduced the ovarian volume and PCOM, thus suggesting a disease-modifying effect in PCOS. Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT2017061917139N2. Registered 7 July 2017, http://irct.ir/trial/15836.


Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Mossa ◽  
F Jimenez-Krassel ◽  
J K Folger ◽  
J L H Ireland ◽  
G W Smith ◽  
...  

Androgens have an important role in ovarian follicular growth and function, but circulating androgen concentrations are also associated with ovarian dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders in women. The extent and causes of the variation in androgen production in individuals, however, are unknown. Because thecal cells of follicles synthesize androstenedione and testosterone, variation in production of these androgens is hypothesized to be directly related to the inherently high variation in number of healthy growing follicles in ovaries of individuals. To test this hypothesis, we determined whether thecal CYP17A1 mRNA (codes for a cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in androgen synthesis), LH-induced thecal androstenedione production, androstenedione concentrations in follicular fluid, and circulating testosterone concentrations were lower in cattle with relatively low versus high number of follicles growing during follicular waves and whether ovariectomy reduced serum testosterone concentrations. Results demonstrated that cattle with a low follicle number had lower (P<0.05) abundance of CYP17A1 mRNA in thecal cells, reduced (P<0.01) capacity of thecal cells to produce androstenedione in response to LH, lower (P<0.01) androstenedione concentrations in ovulatory follicles, and lower (P<0.02) circulating testosterone concentrations during estrous cycles compared with animals with high follicle number. Also, serum testosterone in cattle with low or high follicle number was reduced by 63 and 70%, respectively, following ovariectomy. In conclusion, circulating androgen concentrations are lower in cattle with low versus high number of follicles growing during follicular waves, possibly because of a reduced responsiveness of thecal cells to LH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 1138-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya Chen ◽  
Bilv Ye ◽  
Xiaojing Yang ◽  
Jiujia Zheng ◽  
Jinju Lin ◽  
...  

Objective This study evaluated associations of basal serum and follicular fluid (FF) anti-Muüllerian hormone (AMH) levels with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Methods This prospective study included 179 consecutive women undergoing IVF, including 59 with PCOS and non-PCOS controls. Thirty PCOS cases had long gona-dotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) and 29 had antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocols. Controls underwent conventional GnRH-a. Associations of basal serum and FF AMH levels with IVF outcomes were assessed. Results Median serum and FF AMH levels, antral follicle count (AFC), oestradiol human chorionic gonadotropin injection day (peak E2), and retrieved oocyte numbers were higher in PCOS patients than in controls (all P < 0.01). Oocyte maturation and high-quality embryo rates were lower in PCOS patients than in controls (P < 0.01), but both groups had similar fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and newborn rates. Peak E2 was higher in GnRH-ant than in GnRH-a protocols (16.5 nmol/L vs. 12.1 nmol/L, P < 0.05). AMH levels were correlated with AFC in PCOS patients ( P < 0.01). Peak E2 and FF AMH levels were independent predictors of oocyte number. Peak E2 predicted the fertilization rate. Conclusion Serum basal AMH levels are predictive of oocyte quantity, but not oocyte quality or IVF outcomes. Serum AMH, FF AMH, and outcomes are similar among protocols.


2003 ◽  
Vol 88 (12) ◽  
pp. 5957-5962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Pigny ◽  
Emilie Merlen ◽  
Yann Robert ◽  
Christine Cortet-Rudelli ◽  
Christine Decanter ◽  
...  

Abstract The serum level of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), a product from granulosa cells involved in follicle growth, has been shown to correlate tightly with the small antral follicle number (FN) at ultrasonography (U/S) in women who do not have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Because PCOS is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in growing FN, we investigated whether an increased AMH serum level correlates to other hormonal and/or U/S features of PCOS. Serum AMH has been assayed in 104 women (59 symptomatic PCOS, 45 controls) between d 2 and 7 after the last either spontaneous or progestin-induced (in PCOS) menstrual period. Mean serum AMH level was markedly increased in the PCOS group (47.1 ± 22.9 vs. 20.8 ± 11.6 pmol/liter in controls; P &lt; 0.0001), an increase in the same order of magnitude as the one of the FN in the 2- to 5-mm range at U/S (12.8 ± 8.3 vs. 4.8 ± 1.9; P &lt; 0.0001, respectively). The ratio AMH/FN was similar between the two groups (4.8 ± 3.4 vs. 4.8 ± 2.9; P = 0.55). By simple regression, both in PCOS and controls, the AMH level was positively related to the 2- to 5-mm FN at U/S (P &lt; 0.0001 and P &lt; 0.03, respectively), but not to the 6- to 9-mm FN, and was negatively correlated to the serum FSH level (P &lt; 0.02 and P &lt; 0.04, respectively). AMH was also positively related to the serum testosterone and androstenedione levels, in PCOS exclusively (P &lt; 0.0005 and &lt;0.002, respectively). No relationship was found between AMH and age, serum estradiol, inhibin B, and LH levels in both groups. After multiple regression only the 2- to 5-mm FN remained significantly related to AMH in PCOS whereas testosterone, androstenedione, and FSH were no longer. In conclusion, the assay of the serum AMH may represent an important breakthrough in the diagnosis and in the understanding of PCOS. Our data suggest that the increase of AMH serum level in PCOS is the consequence of the androgen-induced excess in small antral FN and that each follicle produces a normal amount of AMH. We hypothesize that an increased AMH tone within the cohort could be involved in the follicular arrest of PCOS, by interacting negatively with FSH at the time of selection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leili Hafizi ◽  
Akram Behrouznia ◽  
Maliheh Amirian ◽  
Mina Baradaran ◽  
Seyedeh Azam Pourhoseini

Background: Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is recommended for the treatment of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) resistant to clomiphene citrate. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ovarian drilling on the serum levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), androgens, and the number of antral follicles. Methods: This was a pre- and post-clinical trial performed on 30 infertile women with PCOS resistant to clomiphene citrate. Patients underwent standard laparoscopic ovarian drilling. Serum levels of AMH and androgens and antral follicle count (AFC) were surveyed before LOD and three and six months after LOD. The ovarian ovulation rate in each month was also monitored for six months. Then, the association between changes in these parameters, especially the level of AMH, and postoperative ovulation was investigated. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The number of antral follicles three (3.00 ± 8.00) and six months (7.73 ± 4.14) after ovarian drilling showed a significant decrease compared to preoperative values (12.40 ± 4.02) (repeated-measures ANOVA, P < 0.001). The mean AMH (6.78 ± 1.08 versus 12.25 ± 1.35; P = 0.005) and the antral follicle count (7.71 ± 0.54 versus 12.29 ± 0.67 and P < 0.001) were lower in ovulation than in non-ovulation patients. The significantly more AMH reductions were seen in pregnant women (3.63 ± 5.61) than in non-pregnant women (3.63 ± 1.24) (P = 0.01). Conclusions: It may be possible to use the changes in AMH and AFC to predict the success rate of LOD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 181 (6) ◽  
pp. D45-D51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didier Dewailly ◽  
Joop Laven

In women, the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is secreted by the granulosa cells of growing follicles. Its measurement is strongly correlated with antral follicle count and represents a reliable marker of ovarian reserve. It also has the advantage of being highly reproducible since it has little variation within and between cycles. However, although it seems to be a good quantitative reflection of the ovarian reserve, it does not assess oocyte or embryo quality. This drawback precludes any good prediction of female fertility in the general population as well as in specific subgroups of patients. However, the AMH assay can become an indirect marker of the remaining female fertile years in some cases such as in those women who are at risk for premature ovarian failure or in those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome. Its interest is no more to be proven in assisted reproductive technology where it is a valuable aid to the choice of the proposed techniques, ovarian stimulation protocols and gonadotropin dosage. AMH is finally very informative in monitoring cancer patients having received gonadotoxic drugs or having undergone mutilating ovarian surgeries. In conclusion, although it cannot be considered as a reliable predictor of pregnancy in women, AMH is now a useful tool in the management and treatment of female infertility.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document