OBJECTIVES: It was reported that symptoms change according to menstrual cycles, aggravation of symptoms 3 to 7 days before menstruation in bipolar disorder for example. Therefore, this study was to investigate the correlation among the change of symptoms, serum lithium level, estradiol and progesterone levels. METHODS: For women with bipolar disorder, we divided by menstrual cycle into three groups; middle follicular phase, middle luteal phase and late luteal phase. We estimated serum lithiumlevel, estradiol and progesterone of each phase, and assessed the change of symptoms using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Manic-State Rating Scale. Consequently they were divided into symptom changed group and not changed group. RESULTS: Serum lithium levels of patients with bipolar disorder were significantly decreased in middle luteal phase compared with in middle follicular phase, and it was sustained in low level to late follicular phase. Although there were no statistically significant differences, there was more decreased serum lithium level in symptom changed group than in symptom unchanged group. Serum lithium levels were not statistically correlated with both estradiol and progesterone levels. When symptom changed group was compared with symptom not changed group, there was a significant correlation between changes of symptom and estradiol level. CONCLUSION: The possible mechanism of the change of symptoms according to menstrual cycle in bipolar disorder may be in estrogen level and due to the effect of serum lithium level change according to menstrual cycle. The investigation of this mechanism will contribute to the treatment and the prevention of recurrence symptons in bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder* ; Depression ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Humans ; Lithium* ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Menstruation ; Progesterone ; Recurrence

Alteration in the hormone level associated with menstrual cycle influences the interaction between the urethra and bladder as well as detrusor function, maybe due to the common embryological origin of lower female genital and urinary tract. We tried to investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle on cystometric diagnosis through this retrospective study. 60 women with regular menstruation were enrolled in this study. The study groups were divided into 2 groups, Group I was women whose symptoms were not influenced by the menstrual cycle, Group II was women whose symptoms were adversely affected premenstrually. The majority of normal cystometric diagnosis were made in the luteal phase (Group I: 42.9% vs 4.4%, p<0.05; Group II: 50.0% vs 22.2%, p<0.05). But diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence, detrusor instability, mixed genuine stress incontinence and detrusor instability were frequently made in the follicular phase of mentruation. Normal cystometric diagnosis in the group II were more commom than the group II ( 36.8% vs 19.7%, p<0.05 ). The results of this study reveal that the timing of cystometric evaluation may influence the the detection of a positive diagnosis. In patients whose symptom are influenced by their menstrual cycle, the luteal phase may not be the correct time to make an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Menstruation ; Retrospective Studies ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract

BACKGROUND: Measuring of colon transit time (CTT) by radiopaque marker is simple, widely available and important for the diagnosis of slow transit constipation. In spite of recently increasing use of a domestically manufactured radiopaque marker, KolomarkTM in Korea, we lack normative data about CTT which can be obtained by KolomarkTM. Moreover, the effect of gender or menstrual cycle on CTT seems to be still controversial. We tried to measure CTT in healthy volunteers and to compare the effect of gender and menstrual cycle on CTT. METHODS: Forty-two healthy volunteers (21 M, 21 F) were recruited through a hospital advertisement. CTT was measured by a KolomarkTM, according to Metcalf's method. Average daily intake of dietary fiber was estimated and menstrual history was acquired from female volunteers whose serum progesterone and estradiole levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The mean total CTT of 42 healthy volunteers was 26.5+/-19.4 hours. The mean total CTT of male volunteers showed a faster trend than that of female volunteers, however, there was no statistical significance. The mean left CTT was significantly longer in female volunteers than in male volunteers. The mean total CTT of 11 female volunteers in luteal phase (40.9+/-19.0 h) was significantly longer than that of 10 female volunteers in follicular phase (20.6+/-19.2 h, p<0.05). The serum progesterone level, age, BMI and the average daily intake of dietary fiber were not correlated with total CTT. CONCLUSION: Even though total CTT was not significantly different between male and female volunteers, female volunteers in luteal phase showed more prolonged CTT than those in follicular phase.
Colon* ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Dietary Fiber ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Healthy Volunteers* ; Humans ; Korea ; Luteal Phase ; Male ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Menstruation ; Progesterone ; Radioimmunoassay ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVE: To understand the physiologic effects and secretion pattern of inhibin A and inhibin B throughout menstrual cycle in the normal reproductive women, serum values of inhibin A and inhibin B were measured. METHODS: Inhibin A and inhibin B levels were measured in 320 serum samples from 160 normal reproductive women by solid phase sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: In the normal reproductive women, inhibin A is secreted in low serum levels until the mid- proliferative phase, begins to increase in the late proliferative phase (16.53+/-1.57 pg/ml), reaches the peak in the early secretory and mid-secretory phase (45.56+/-2.37 and 45.85+/-2.08 pg/ml), and subsequently decreases in the late secretory phase. We found that inhibin B begins to increase in the early proliferative phase (65.40+/-4.08 pg/ml), is secreted in high concentration in the proliferative phase, reaches the peak in the ovulatory phase (110.74+/-9.83 pg/ml), and thereafter declines rapidly to the lowest level in the mid-secretory phase (29.59+/-2.08 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, serum inhibin A levels peak during the luteal phase, indicating the greatest production by the corpus luteum and serum inhibin B levels increase during the follicular phase, indicating the greatest production by follicles in early stage of development. Inhibin A is associated with the luteal function and inhibin B, the follicular function. Both inhibins are associated with the follicular maturation and development.
Corpus Luteum ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changing pattern of serum leptin level and the correlation between estradiol level during the clomiphene citrate challenge test(CCCT) or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) cycle. METHODS: Twenty-seven women who underwent CCCT and fourteen women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were recruited to measure the serum leptin level. After correction of serum concentration with body mass index(BMI), changes of leptin level and correlation with serum estradiol level during CCCT and COH cycle were analyzed. RESULTS: Circulating leptin levels were significantly correlated with BMI at each time point in CCCT cycle(P<0.01). In CCCT cycle, leptin/BMI level was significantly increased at midluteal phase compared to that of menstrual cycle day 3 and 10(p<0.05). In women with regular menstruation, leptin/BMI level at midluteal phase was significantly higher than that of menstrual day 3 and 10, but this difference was not seen in women with irregular menstruation. The leptin/BMI level in COH cycle showed increasing tendency throughout ovarian stimulation. But there was no significant correlation between leptin/BMI and estradiol level in CCCT and COH cycle. CONCLUSION: There is a significant correlation between BMI and circulating leptin level. Midluteal leptin level is significantly higher than that of follicular phase in CCCT cycle, and there is an increasing tendency in leptin level after ovarian stimulation in CCCT and COH cycle without statistical significance. These findings suggest that circulating estradiol concentration has no major influence on circulating leptin level.
Clomiphene* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Ovulation Induction

Recurrent pneumothorax was associated with the menstrual cycle in two women 20 to 30 years age; this is referred to as catamenial pneumothorax. This form of pneumothorax occurs within 72 hours before or after the onset of menstruation. The pathophysiology underlying this condition is unknown. We report here on two cases of catamenial pneumothorax that were successfully treated by partial resection of the diaphragm.
Diaphragm ; Female ; Humans ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Pneumothorax

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare disorder involving hypersensitivity to progesterone. It is most frequently characterized by recurrent erythema multiforme, eczematous or urticarial eruptions during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. It resolves or partially improves after menstruation. Sensitivity is demonstrated by a challenge test with medroxyprogesterone acetate. The therapeutic goal for autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is the suppression of ovulation. Currently, the first-line choice of therapy is a combination oral contraceptive. Here, we report a case of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis that manifested as cyclic bullous erythema multiforme. A reactive intradermal progesterone test confirmed the diagnosis.
Dermatitis* ; Diagnosis ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Female ; Hypersensitivity ; Luteal Phase ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Ovulation ; Progesterone*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The female sex hormones are thought to affect gastrointestinal function. However, the relationship between female sex hormone and gastrointestinal function has not been identified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between constipation and hormonal changes in young women and to find the difference of colon transit time (CTT) across the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Two hundred and five students completed questionnaires. CTT as well as serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in 15 regularly menstruating volunteers. RESULTS: One hundred and six experienced changes in bowel habit across menstrual cycle. The mean estradiol concentration in the follicular phase was not significantly different from that in the luteal phase (118.0 +/- 28.8 pg/mL vs. 76.9 +/- 10.5 pg/mL, p > 0.05). The mean progesterone concentration in the luteal phase was significantly higher than that in the follicular phase (3.0 +/- 0.9 ng/mL vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4 ng/mL, p < 0.05). The mean CTT was not significantly delayed in the luteal phase than the time in the follicular phase (45 +/- 20 vs. 35 +/- 22 hours, p > 0.05). However, CTT was delayed at the progesterone peak in 11 of 15 (73.3%) women. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested a possible role of female sex hormones as a cause of constipation in young women.
Colon* ; Constipation ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Phase ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Progesterone ; Volunteers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGOUND: This study was designed to examine the effects of female hormones and the menstrual cycle on postoperative pain. METHODS: Ninety women who underwent gynecologic surgery involving a lower abdominal incision were asked for information regarding their menstrual cycles, and blood samples were obtained to determine the progesterone and estrogen levels of the patients at the time of surgery. Patient controlled analgesia was applied to control postoperative pain and an estimate of the consumption of analgesic drugs by the patients was made. Analgesic consumption and pain scores were recorded at 2, 24, and 48 hours after operation. RESULTS: There was no relationship observed between the concentration of progesterone and estrogen and the consumption of analgesic drugs. However, patients that were in the luteal phase at the time of surgery consumed a significantly lower amount of analgesic drugs during the 2-24 hours following surgery than patients that were in the follicular phase (19.4 +/- 6.5 ml vs 24.6 +/- 11.0 ml, P < 0.05), Theree was, no significant difference in pain scores between two menstrual phases. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that there is less postoperative pain experienced by patients that are in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle at the time of surgery than in patients that were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle, however, the results of this study did not reveal a relationship between the blood concentration of female hormones and postoperative pain.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Estrogens ; Female* ; Follicular Phase ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Progesterone

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare cyclic premenstrual reaction to a variety of progesterone produced during the luteal phase of a woman's menstrual cycle, including urticaria, urticarial papule, papulovesicle, eczematous lesion, erythema multiforme, and progesterone-induced anaphylaxis. A 23-year-old woman presented with brown colored hyperpigmented reticular patches on the chest and abdomen. Since the age of 20, she had been recurrently suffering from pruritic eruption that appeared regularly 5 to 10 days prior to menstruation and persisted for several days. Intradermal skin test reaction to progesterone was positive. These features were consistent with the diagnosis of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis.
Abdomen ; Anaphylaxis ; Dermatitis* ; Diagnosis ; Erythema Multiforme ; Female ; Humans ; Luteal Phase ; Menstrual Cycle ; Menstruation ; Progesterone* ; Skin Tests ; Thorax ; Urticaria ; Young Adult