The Menstrual Disorders in Women of Reproductive Age with Obesity

Abstract

Introduction. In this article, the authors present the results of studies on reproductive health features in 25 women with obesity seeking medical help for infertility. Objective: to study the nature of menstrual disorders in women of childbearing age with obesity. Materials and methods. We have studied the features of reproductive health in 25 obese women seeking medical assistance for infertility in the Republican specialized scientific and practical centre of endocrinology in 2014–2015, who were included in the first study group. The second group consisted of 25 women with normal weight-for-stature values and without menstrual disorders. All the patients underwent the following tests, including complete blood count, blood biochemistry, radioimmunoassays of the blood hormones (prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin, estradiol, progesterone, free testosterone, thyroxine, anti-Műllerian hormone, dehydroepiandrostenedione, ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries with folliculometry on 11–14th days of the menstrual cycle. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland. Results. In the history of the patients in both groups, diseases of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal diseases were most common among somatic pathology. Among gynecological diseases, in both groups the most frequent disorders were chronic urogenital infection, candida vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Emphasis is placed on the data about the presence of hormone-dependent proliferative diseases in women with overweight: cervical pseudoerosions, endocervicosis, uterine fibroids, a history of endometriosis. The analysis of biochemical parameters in the first study group found increased triglycerids levels < 1.7 mmol/L in 15 %, a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 1.2 mmol/l — in 12 % of women, increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol > 3.0 mmol/L — in 34 %. The first group of patients had low values of the average parameters of LH, FSH, free and total testosterone (normogonadotropic hypogonadism) against normoprolactinemia. The levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, and cortisol were within normal limits. Folliculometry results showed a high incidence of follicular persistence, anovulatory disorders and follicular atresia. Conclusions. In young women with the metabolic syndrome, secondary amenorrhea prevails in the structure of menstrual dysfunction — 8 (32.0 %) cases. Hyperandrogenic anovulation following hyperinsulinemia underlies the menstrual dysfunction.