Hormonal reproductive status of women at menopausal transition compared to that observed in a group of midreproductive-aged women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in perimenopausal women to the levels of the same reproductive hormones in younger women.


METHODS
This was a case control study which compared the hormonal status (circulating levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T, E2, DHEA-S) between women at menopausal transition and younger mid-reproductive-aged controls. The t-test for independent samples was used.


RESULTS
FSH, LH and E2 were higher, and T and DHEA-S were lower in perimenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
The reproductive hormonal patterns in perimenopausal women favor a relatively hypergonadotropic hyper-estrogenic milieu.
Sengos
C
C
Dept. of Obstet.-Gynecol., Alexandra Gen. Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Iatrakis
G
G
Andreakos
C
C
Xygakis
A
A
Papapetrou
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone