The purpose of this study is to determine why obese women have lower hormone levels and less
fertility than women of normal body weight. The proposal will examine the reproductive system
at the level of the brain and the ovary to define the changes that happen leading to lowered
hormone production. Women will be studied throughout a menstrual cycle and given medications
that will test how well their pituitary gland can make hormones that stimulate the ovary
(luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)). They will also be given a
medication to abolish estrogen production in the body and their response to this medication
will be assessed. Finally, the ovary's ability to produce progesterone after ovulation will
be examined.
--Hypotheses:
1. Obese women have reduced pituitary sensitivity to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing
hormone (GnRH), but normal clearance of exogenous LH. (comparative study of obese
compared to normal weight women)
2. Obese women have abnormally increased sensitivity to estradiol negative feedback which
will be reversed by an aromatase inhibitor. (comparative study of obese compared to
normal weight women)
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Colorado, Denver
Collaborator:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)