SEASONALITY OF REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION AND WEIGHT-LOSS IN RURAL NEPALI WOMEN

Menstrual and hormonal disturbances have been reported in thin, dietin g and exercising Western women, and also recently in rural African wom en. A study of salivary progesterone profiles was undertaken in a Nepa li population to examine whether seasonal increases in workload and ch anges in energy balance influenced ovarian function. Women's energy ex penditure levels were moderately heavy in the winter and very heavy in the monsoon, and body mass fluctuated by -2.8 to +4.8 kg. Samples wer e collected from 24 normally menstruating women in two seasons, each i ndividual serving as her own control. Progesterone levels were signifi cantly depressed in the monsoon relative to winter for women who lost weight, but not for women who gained weight, indicating that energy im balance is associated with a loss of fecundity. No differences in body mass index were found between women who lost or gained weight. Proges terone levels were age-dependent, and the degree of hormonal disturban ce between age-groups was related to weight loss. The study demonstrat es seasonal changes in the fecundity of hard-working Nepali women and a direct link between ovarian function and weight loss (negative energ y balance), which is independent of current nutritional status.