title: Associations Between Antral Ovarian Follicle Dynamics and Hormone Production Throughout the Menstrual Cycle as Women Age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physiological origins of age-related changes in hormone production during the menstrual cycle are uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that changes in antral follicle dynamics are associated with changes in hormone production as women age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, observational study was conducted in ovulatory women of midreproductive age (MRA; 18-35 y; n = 10) and advanced reproductive age (ARA; 45-55 y; n = 20). The numbers and diameters of all follicles of 2 mm or greater were quantified ultrasonographically every 1-3 days for one interovulatory interval; the growth profiles of individually identified follicles of 4 mm or greater were tabulated. Blood samples were assayed for FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, inhibin A and B, and anti-Mullerian hormone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty percent of women in both the MRA and ARA groups developed one to two luteal-phase dominant follicles (LPDFs). MRA women with typical LPDFs had greater luteal-phase inhibin B (44.2 vs 17.0 ng/L) and estradiol (91.3 vs 51.7 ng/L) compared with those without LPDFs (P < .05). Luteal-phase estradiol was greater (184 vs 79 ng/L), inhibin B was greater (25.3 vs 12.7 ng/L), and progesterone was lower (6.98 vs 13.8 μg/L) in ARA women with atypical vs no LPDFs (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in antral follicle dynamics are associated with changes in hormone production as women age. The development of LPDFs in women of MRA was associated with elevated luteal-phase estradiol. A similar but exaggerated elevation in late luteal-early follicular-phase estradiol, accompanied by lower progesterone, was observed in ARA women with atypically large and persistent LPDFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanden Brink
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: David Mark
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Chel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.V.B., D.C., A.B.) and Clinical Research Support Unit (H.L., C.L.), College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8; Hudson Institute of Medical Research (formally Monash Institute of Medical Research-Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research) (D.M.R., H.B.), Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (G.H.), University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baerwald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol