Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rsci

SAGETRACK

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Berga, S. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Berga, S. L.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Vol. 8, No. 1 suppl, S3-S6 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/107155760100800102
© 2001 SAGE Publications

Systemic Benefits of Cyclic Ovarian Function

Sarah L. Berga, MD

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Psychiatry, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Senior Scientist, Magee-Women's Research Institute, Magee-Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; sberga{at}mail.magee.edu

Objective: To consider the systemic benefits of cyclic ovarian function.

Methods: Review and interpretation of extant data and concepts, with a focus on the physiologic impact of gonadal steroid exposures upon key nonreproductive target tissues in women.

Results: The role of cyclic ovarian function in reproductive processes such as menstruation, folliculogenesis, and conception is well understood. Less is known about the impact of the characteristic sex steroid fluctuations associated with ovulatory menstrual cycles upon what are typically viewed as nonreproductive tissues, such as the limbic lobe and cerebral cortex. The explosion in knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of steroid action has expanded our appreciation of the complex and often subtle nature of this impact.

Conclusions: A clear understanding of the systemic benefits of cyclic ovarian function is required to advise patients adequately about the risks and benefits of exogenous hormone use for the remediation or induction of anovulatory states. The inherent complexity of steroid hormone action coupled with the recognition that there is a long list of reproductive and nonreproductive target tissues obviates simple statements about the risks and benefits of hormonal manipulation and anovulatory states.

Key Words: Ovulatory function • estradiol • brain


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?