Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Menopause

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...

Infertility in Females

Infertility in Females

Female infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse and affects about 10–15% of couples worldwide. The primary cause of female infertility is ovulatory disorders, which hinder the release of eggs. These disorders can be classified as hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hyperprolactinemic anovulation disorders.
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...

Oogenesis

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...

Infertility in Males

Infertility in Males

Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

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...

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Case Reports from Women Using a Quantitative Hormone Monitor to Track the Perimenopause Transition.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2023

Same author

Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in a Randomized Trial of Patients With Crohn's Disease.

Gastroenterology·2020

Same author

Influence of Contraception Use on the Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Young Adults.

The Linacre quarterly·2018

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Z-Scores for Assessing Ovarian Reserve in Young Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation

Z-Scores for Assessing Ovarian Reserve in Young Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation

Published on: October 25, 2024

Perimenopause and the Use of Fertility Tracking: 3 Case Studies.

Maria G Meyers¹, Lauren Vitale², Kathryn Elenchin³

¹Jefferson County Department of Health, The Children's Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA.

The Linacre Quarterly

|March 16, 2023

Summary

Tracking fertility during perimenopause is challenging due to irregular cycles. This study proposes guidelines using hormonal monitoring and STRAW criteria to identify fertile windows in women approaching menopause.

Keywords:

Fertility awareness Fertility awareness information technology Fertility health Menstrual cycle Natural family planning Women’s health Women’s reproductive health Women’s reproductive issues

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Relationship Between FSH and Pathophysiological Changes in Perimenopausal Women - Insights from a Mouse Model

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Relationship Between FSH and Pathophysiological Changes in Perimenopausal Women - Insights from a Mouse Model

Published on: August 11, 2023

Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model

Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model

Published on: April 7, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Z-Scores for Assessing Ovarian Reserve in Young Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation

Z-Scores for Assessing Ovarian Reserve in Young Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation

Published on: October 25, 2024

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Relationship Between FSH and Pathophysiological Changes in Perimenopausal Women - Insights from a Mouse Model

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Relationship Between FSH and Pathophysiological Changes in Perimenopausal Women - Insights from a Mouse Model

Published on: August 11, 2023

Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model

Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model

Published on: April 7, 2023

Area of Science:

Reproductive endocrinology
Women's health
Menopause transition

Background:

Perimenopause is characterized by hormonal shifts, irregular menses, and fluctuating fertility.
Limited research exists on fertility tracking methods during the perimenopausal transition.
Understanding fertile windows is crucial for family planning and reproductive health management.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish guidelines for identifying fertile periods in perimenopausal women.
To correlate fertility tracking with the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) criteria.
To demonstrate the application of these guidelines through case reports.

Main Methods:

Utilized Luteinizing Hormone (LH) urine assay sticks and electronic hormonal monitors.
Incorporated cervical mucus observation.
Applied the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) criteria for staging reproductive aging.

Main Results:

Developed a set of guidelines for determining potentially fertile times during perimenopause.
Presented three case reports illustrating the practical application of the proposed guidelines.
Highlighted the variability of fertility during this life stage.

Conclusions:

The proposed guidelines offer a structured approach to fertility tracking in perimenopause.
Integrating hormonal monitoring with STRAW staging can aid in identifying fertile windows.
Further research is warranted to validate these methods in larger cohorts.