Abstract
The aim of our work based on answers of Slovak women - university students that are representing an important target group, was to analyse their reproductive behaviour and opinions, because the behaviour and opinions concerning reproduction could differ significantly depending also on education. Our goal was to analyze associations among reproductive behaviour of university student girls, their opinions and concentrations of endocrine regulators (insulin-like growth factors IGF-1, estradiol, testosterone and progesterone) in the blood serum and record their changes during the ovarian cycle. The group under study encompassed 301 female university students aged 19 ± 1.371 years. Analysis of reproductive behaviour characteristics were based on a questionnaire method. Concentrations of the IGF-1, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone in blood plasma according to ovarian cycle phase had been set by biochemical methods and then linked with reproductive behaviour. Average value of sexual debut for girls was 17.21 ± 1.31 years. Most of them get over their first sexual intercourse in the age of 19 and almost half of them had one sexual partner. Differences in hormone concentrations were proved according to ovarian cycle phase for estradiol and progesterone, but no differences were found for testosterone; physiological role of IGF-1 during ovarian cycle did not alternate. IGF-1 influenced regulation of female students´ opinion of optimum age for sexual life beginning, their attitude to gender identity and marriage planning. Satisfaction with sexual identity was associated with higher blood estradiol level (but not with testosterone and progesterone levels). The outputs given in this work can help identifying insufficiently known relations between less known endocrine regulators (IGF-1) and reproductive behaviour of young women. Practical results are assumed e.g. in possible screening tests, diagnostics and subsequent troubleshooting concerning the reproduction behaviour of young women.
Highlights
Scientists involved in the growth and evolution of man are agreed that during the second decade of human life numerous biological, psychic and social changes occur, which bring development of sexuality and reproductive behavior [1,2,3,4]
Human reproductive behavior is determined by biological dispositions, but its actual manifestations could be substantially modified by external circumstances and it is characterized by three life milestones – first sexual intercourse, marriage and birth of first child [5]
In our work we proved differences in hormone concentrations in relation to ovarian cycle phases with estradiol and progesterone, but not with testosterone; physiological role of IGF-1 during the ovarian cycle does not change
Summary
Scientists involved in the growth and evolution of man are agreed that during the second decade of human life (adolescence period) numerous biological, psychic and social changes occur, which bring development of sexuality and reproductive behavior [1,2,3,4]. During the fetal and neonatal life, rather high concentration of hormones, testosterone mainly, influences brain development and gender-specific behavior. This phenomenon has been primarily evaluated in rodents as well as in primates and other mammals. The hypothalamus, hippocampus and limbic system appear to be an important aim of sex steroids [8,9]. These brain structures and from here controlled behavior are activated at the beginning of puberty, when production of the sex steroid hormones rises [10].
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