Climacteric symptoms, fat mass, and plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, Prl, oestradiol-17β and androstenedione in the early post-menopausal period

Abstract

Abstract. The relations between climacteric symptoms, fat mass, time after the menopause, and plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (Prl), oestradiol-17β, and androstenedione were studied in 313 normal females in their early post-menopausal period. The mean age of the women was 50 years (45–54 years, range) and the time elapsed since the last menstrual bleeding was 19.8 months (4–46 months). Most women had mild to moderate climacteric complaints. The participants were examined and filled in a questionnaire containing the 11 symptoms of Kupperman index. A total of 61% of the women complained of hot flushes and from 9% to 44% complained of the remaining 10 Kupperman symptoms. Women with hot flushes (n = 196) had a higher mean score (P < 0.01) of the remaining symptoms than women without (n = 117). Plasma concentrations of LH and FSH were significantly higher and levels of oestradiol-17β and androstenedione were significantly lower in women complaining of hot flushes than in women without. Plasma levels of FSH was significantly (P < 0.05) higher and levels of oestradiol17β was signficantly (P < 0.01) lower in women with insomnia than in women not complaining of this symptom and women with depression had significantly (P < 0.01) higher Prl levels than women without. The months since the menopause were related to plasma levels of FSH (r = +0.216, P < 0.01) and oestradiol-17β levels (r = −0.306, P < 0.001) but not to plasma concentration of LH, Prl and androstenedione. Fat mass was related to plasma FSH and androstenedione concentrations and correlation was found between oestradiol-17β and androstenedione (r = +0.334, P < 0.001). Surprisingly, no correlation between hot flushes and fat mass was found.