THE RELATION OF THE GONADOTROPIN-RESPONSE TO CHLORMADINONE ACCORDING TO BODY-WEIGHT IN PATIENTS WITH AMENORRHEA DUE TO POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME

Objective: To analyze the influence of weight on gonadotrophin respons e after chlormadinone (hydroxyprogesterone derivative) induced uterine bleeding in women with amenorrhea due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Design: A comparative study. Methods: Thirty-six patients with PCOS were classified according to body mass index into three weight g roups, normal, overweight and obese. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and foll icle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured during amenorrhea and between days 3-5 after a chlormadinone (2 mg/day for 5 days) induc ed uterine bleed. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon tes t for paired groups and Mann-Whitney U-test for independent groups. Re sults: Overall LH, FSH levels and the LH/FSH ratio fell significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) after chlormadinone administration. The LH levels decreased in all three weight groups, th e LH/FSH ratio only fell in those normal and overweight subjects, and FSH did not change in any group. When comparing the group with normal weight and those with overweight and obesity no hormonal differences w ere found. Conclusion: These results show that chlormadinone has an in hibitory effect predominantly over LH secretion which reduces the LH/F SH ratio, but this is independent of body weight.