Association of ovarian volume and serum LH levels in adolescent patients with menstrual disorders and/or hirsutism

Pelvic ultrasonography was performed on 25 adolescent patients with menstrual disorders and/or hirsutism. Clinical and endocrinologic state was evaluated by history, physical examination and assays of serum LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and androstenedione levels in order to determine a possible association between hormonal levels and ovarian volume in the etiologic investigation of these adolescent girls. Patients aged 12 to 19 years, mean 14.92 years (menarche at 12 to 16 years; mean, 12.32 years) were divided into three groups according to ovarian size at ultrasonography: group I, N = 13, both ovaries 2-10 cm3; group II, N = 5, one of the ovaries > 10 cm3; group III, N = 7, both ovaries > 10 cm3. A strong correlation between serum LH levels and ovarian volume (r = 0.647, P < 0.0001) was observed. Moreover, when comparing the hormonal levels of all three groups, serum LH levels were significantly higher in group III (group I, 3.92 +/- 3.49; group II, 5.25 +/- 2.71; group III, 9.77 +/- 3.11 mIU/ml; mean +/- SD, P < 0.003) while testosterone and androstenedione levels showed a tendency to also be higher, but this difference was not significant. This hormonal pattern is suggestive of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The present results suggest that ovarian size of more than 10 cm3 at pelvic ultrasound in adolescent girls with menstrual disorders and/or hirsutism might be predictive of PCOS and emphasize the importance of careful assessment of ovarian volume by ultrasound

Menstrual blood loss of TCU-380A and TCU-200B IUDs

Menstrual blood loss [MBL] increases after IUD insertion, yet this increase could be decreased when Copper [Cu] is added to IUD, The degree of decrease of MBL is directly proportioned to the surface area of [Cu] added. The present study was conducted on 50 women [25 fitted with TCu-200 B and 25 fitted with TCu-380 A. The MBL was estimated in both groups; on preinsertion cycle [control] and on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th postinsertion cycles; using the atomic absorption spec-trophotometer technique. The MBL was significantly higher in the postinsertion cycles as compared to the preinsertion cycle in both groups [P < 0.05]. Although there was an increase of MBL in postinsertion cycles in the studied groups, yet this increase was significantly lower in women fitted with TCu-380 A as compared to those fitted with TCu-200 B. The removal rates for bleeding were 0 and 8. / per 100 women year respectively for the TCu-380 A and TCu-200 B IUD users