Estrogen Sensitivity and Ovulatory Dysfunction in Obesity
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The sole purpose of this study is to evaluate pathophysiology of disease. The disease state
that is being evaluated is the obesity-related alterations in reproductive hormones
- The obesity epidemic in the United States is advancing at an accelerated pace. It is
estimated that by 2015, 41% of U.S. adults will be obese as defined by a body mass index
(BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2. The U.S. government's 2010 Dietary Guidelines regard
obesity as the single greatest health hazard in this century. Female adult obesity is
associated with menstrual cycle irregularities, ovulatory dysfunction and a higher risk
of obstetrical complications. This reproductive phenotype of obesity is worsened by
further increases in BMI and is not solely due to anovulatory infertility. While the
association of adiposity with subfertility is well documented in population studies, the
underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The main objective of this proposal is
to clarify the nature of the obesity-related reproductive endocrine abnormalities and
identify potential etiologies amenable to therapy.
- Hypothesis: The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is abnormally sensitive to estradiol
negative feedback in obesity.