title: Pilot study investigating the age-related decline in ovarian function of regularly menstruating normal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use a pilot study to investigate markers of the age-related decline in ovarian function of regularly menstruating normal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers (n = 42) aged 18 to 50 years who had regular ovulatory menstrual cycles and a prior pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single 300-IU dose of human recombinant FSH on day 3 of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antral follicle count by transvaginal ultrasound and basal and FSH-stimulated serum markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age correlated most strongly with FSH-stimulated inhibin B (r = -0.660), followed by antral follicle count (r = -0.578), basal FSH (r = 0.509), basal Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS; r = -0.468), and basal inhibin B (r = -0.358). Total antral follicle count correlated most strongly with basal MIS level (r = 0.642).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the parameters tested, FSH-stimulated serum inhibin B level had the strongest correlation with age. Basal serum MIS level had the strongest correlation with total antral follicle count. We confirm a previous report that in normal women, the antral follicle count as determined by transvaginal ultrasound examination correlates better with age than do basal FSH and basal inhibin B levels.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Endocrinology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Carmen L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Vien H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Vanderhoof
authors.forename: Lony C-L
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Karim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Calis
authors.forename: Ahalya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.forename: Nadia T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: Lawrence M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone