Cholesterol, endocrine and metabolic disturbances in sporadic anovulatory women with regular menstruation.
BACKGROUND
Sporadic anovulation among regularly menstruating women is not well understood. It is hypothesized that cholesterol abnormalities may lead to hormone imbalances and incident anovulation. The objective was to evaluate the association between lipoprotein cholesterol levels and endocrine and metabolic disturbances and incident anovulation among ovulatory and anovulatory women reporting regular menstruation.


METHODS
The BioCycle Study was a prospective cohort study conducted at the University at Buffalo from September 2005 to 2007, which followed 259 self-reported regularly menstruating women aged 18-44 years, for one or two complete menstrual cycles. Sporadic anovulation was assessed across two menstrual cycles.


RESULTS
Mean total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides levels across the menstrual cycles were higher during anovulatory cycles (mean difference: 4.6 (P = 0.01), 3.0 (P = 0.06) and 6.4 (P = 0.0002) mg/dl, respectively, adjusted for age and BMI). When multiple total cholesterol (TC) measures prior to expected ovulation were considered, we observed a slight increased risk of anovulation associated with increased levels of TC (odds ratio per 5 mg/dl increase, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.99, 1.16). Sporadic anovulation was associated with an increased LH:FSH ratio (P = 0.002), current acne (P = 0.02) and decreased sex hormone-binding globulin levels (P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
These results do not support a strong association between lipoprotein cholesterol levels and sporadic anovulation. However, sporadic anovulation among regularly menstruating women is associated with endocrine disturbances which are typically observed in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Epidemiology Branch, Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, DHHS, 6100 Executive Boulevard 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
Sunni L
SL
Mumford
Enrique F
EF
Schisterman
Anna Maria
AM
Siega-Riz
Audrey J
AJ
Gaskins
Anne Z
AZ
Steiner
Julie L
JL
Daniels
Andrew F
AF
Olshan
Mary L
ML
Hediger
Kathleen
K
Hovey
Jean
J
Wactawski-Wende
Maurizio
M
Trevisan
Michael S
MS
Bloom
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002784:Cholesterol