Pituitary and ovarian hormone levels in unexplained menorrhagia

Abstract

To compare pituitary and ovarian hormone levels in women complaining of unexplained menorrhagia with objectively heavy menstrual blood loss (greater than 80 mL) to those with normal loss, and to determine whether there is any relation between menstrual volume and important cyclic endocrine events.Over the course of 1 month, daily plasma LH, FSH, and estradiol (E2), and salivary progesterone concentrations were determined in 20 women with a measured menstrual loss exceeding 80 mL. These were compared with values in 22 women whose loss was less than 80 mL. For all participants, we calculated correlation coefficients for measured menstrual blood loss and the mean LH peak concentration, the mean FSH peak concentration, the mean of plasma E2 concentrations from day LH -3 to +1, and the mean of salivary progesterone concentrations from day LH +2 to +10.There were no significant differences in the plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, or E2 or in the salivary concentrations of progesterone between those with objectively heavy loss and those with normal loss. We did not find significant relations between the measured menstrual blood loss and the mean LH and FSH peak concentrations, the plasma E2 concentrations daily around ovulation, or the salivary progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase.There does not appear to be a relation between ovarian and pituitary hormones and menstrual loss.