Long-term use of methamphetamine disrupts the menstrual cycles and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
OBJECTIVE
Long-term use of methamphetamine (MA) induces the neuron damage and leads to multiple neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the effect of MA on the female reproductive functions has not yet been evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal menstrual cycling in female MA users.


METHODS
Female MA users (N = 113) were recruited from the Zhangjiang Isolated Compulsory Detoxification Center. Gynecologic history and drug use history were recorded, and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone were measured.


RESULTS
Long-term use of MA significantly altered the menstrual cycle, and 33.6% women suffered from abnormal uterine bleeding while using MA. Deregulation of sex hormones was observed in 73.3% of participants during abstinence. The most common patterns were simple anovular menstruation, which was caused mainly by a hypothalamic deregulation and pituitary suppression with or without ovarian suppression. Normal hormone levels were observed more frequently in participants abstinent for more than 10 months (39.5%) than in participants who were abstinent for less than 10 months (18.6%). However, no relationship was found between hormone deregulation and age or history of MA use.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data demonstrate that long-term use of MA results in the disruption of menstrual cycles and dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in women.
From the Ningbo Addiction Research and Treatment Center, School of Medicine (WWS, LHL, YL, XNH, LHC, WZ), Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, People's Republic of China; and Department of Gynecology (YSZ), the No. 1 People's Hospital of Ningbo, Ningbo 315010, People's Republic of China.
Wen-Wen
WW
Shen
Yi-Sheng
YS
Zhang
Long-Hui
LH
Li
Yu
Y
Liu
Xian-Ni
XN
Huang
Ling-Hong
LH
Chen
Wenhua
W
Zhou
D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone; D008694:Methamphetamine; D011374:Progesterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone