Correlations between gonadotropins level, vaginal cytology and menopause vessel-active phenomena

Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2009;50(4):631-7.

Abstract

Introduction: Vessel active phenomena from menopause as hot flushes have unknown cause but is demonstrated that the hormone substitution treatment has a very good efficiency in the disproof of the symptomatology.

Objectives: To establish if there is a correlation between gonadotropins level, the presence of the vessel active manifestations and the atrophy of the vaginal epithelium in menopause.

Material and methods: The study design is cross-sectional, done on the 40 and 60-year-old women from the general population list of a family doctor. We studied the blood values of LH and FSH and the vagina cytology and the relations of these parameters with the presence of hot flushes and others vessel active phenomena in menopause.

Results: The group consists of 136 women aged between 40 and 60-year-old. Their blood tests prove: LH with normal levels in 79% of cases, FSH has high values in 85%, the vagina cytology marked out the epithelium atrophy in 76% of cases.

Discussion: The augmentation of the FSH values is associated with the presence of hot flashes. The ratio LH/FSH under 0.40 is strong associated with vessel active phenomena (p-value 0.000012). We could not establish a statistical correlation between the presence of the vessel active phenomena and vagina atrophy (p-value 0.098).

Conclusions: Vessel active manifestations on the menopause have morphological substratum. The increase of FSH is statistic correlated to the vessel active disorders. It is possible that FRH be the trigger for the hypothalamic thermo detection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Blood Vessels / physiopathology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood*
  • Hot Flashes / blood*
  • Hot Flashes / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood*
  • Menopause / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Vagina / pathology*

Substances

  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone