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Related Concept Videos

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...
Ovaries01:26

Ovaries

The ovaries are roughly the size of almonds and measure approximately 2 to 3 centimeters in length. These paired structures are situated within the pelvic region and are anchored by the mesovarium—a peritoneal extension that also connects them to the wider structure of the broad ligament. The support system extends to the suspensory ligament, housing blood and lymphatic vessels. In addition, the ovarian ligament tethers the ovaries to the uterus.
On the ovarian surface, a layer of cuboidal...

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Studies on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Xiaoyao Pills in The Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice
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Tamoxifen and ovarian function.

Martine Berliere1, Francois P Duhoux, Florence Dalenc

  • 1Clinique du sein, Centre du Cancer, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. martine.berliere@uclouvain.be

Plos One
|July 11, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Amenorrhea alone is insufficient to determine menopausal status in breast cancer patients on tamoxifen. Biological markers are crucial for accurate endocrine status assessment in these women.

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Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Gynecology

Background:

  • Clinical amenorrhea is often inadequate for defining menopausal status in women undergoing chemotherapy or tamoxifen treatment.
  • This study investigates ovarian function in premenopausal breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare clinical and biological parameters for assessing ovarian function in premenopausal breast cancer patients on tamoxifen.
  • To evaluate the reliability of amenorrhea versus hormonal assays in determining menopausal status.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective follow-up of 138 premenopausal breast cancer patients (1999-2003) for 3 years, with retrospective data analysis in 2011.
  • Data collection included menses patterns, physical exams, blood tests (LH, FSH, 17-beta-estradiol), and vaginal ultrasonography.
  • Patients were divided into groups based on tamoxifen monotherapy or post-chemotherapy tamoxifen treatment.

Main Results:

  • Estrogen levels did not significantly impact disease-free survival rates at 3 or 8 years.
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values mirrored estradiol levels.
  • Menses patterns varied, with subgroups ranging from regular menses to complete amenorrhea.

Conclusions:

  • Amenorrhea is an unreliable sole indicator of menopausal status in tamoxifen-treated patients.
  • Low estradiol levels require confirmation with additional biological parameters for accurate endocrine status.
  • These findings are critical for guiding endocrine therapy choices in breast cancer management.