title: GnRH-agonist therapy in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome: effects on ovarian volume and on gonadotropin and sex steroid levels.
abstract: Eleven patients with infertility and polycystic ovarian syndrome were treated with the GnRH agonist buserelin, 100 micrograms administered intranasally 6 times daily. The ovarian volume and morphology were monitored by vaginal sonography, and serum levels of hormones were measured by immunoassay. The mean ovarian volume was reduced from 13.0 +/- 4.1 cm3 to 9.1 +/- 3.1 cm3 after 42 days of treatment, p less than 0.001. The number of discernible ovarian microcysts was reduced from 11.9 +/- 2.1 to 9.6 +/- 2.9, p less than 0.05. The gonadotropin levels were reduced in all patients; however, there was no direct relationship between the reduction in ovarian volume loss and the concomitant decrease in LH or FSH levels. The levels of testosterone and androstenedione were normalized, whilst estradiol was suppressed to postmenopausal levels during the treatment period. The decrease in ovarian volume and the suppressed levels of ovarian steroids therefore seem to be related to the inhibition of the pituitary-ovarian axis with the GnRH agonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanbo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abyholm
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin