Characterizing the reproductive hormone milieu in infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve

Objective: To elucidate the reproductive hormone profiles in association with a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Academic tertiary care infertility practice. Patient(s): Eight regularly cycling infertile women diagnosed with DOR as the underlying contributor to infertility and 14 age-comparable healthy controls. Intervention(s): Daily morning urine voids were collected during one menstrual cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s): Urinary excretion of gonadotropins (FSH, LIH) and metabolites of estrogen (E; estrone conjugate) and P (pregnanediol 3 glucoronide) during an entire menstrual cycle in women with DOR and healthy controls. Result(s): Women with DOR demonstrated significantly higher urinary FSH levels in the early follicular phase, exaggerated amplitudes, significantly protracted durations of LH, concomitant FSH surges, and significantly impaired luteal phase urinary excretions of estrone conjugate and pregnanediol 3 glucoronide compared with the controls. Conclusion(s): Women with DOR demonstrate reproductive hormone profiles that are distinct from age-comparable controls, share similarities with profiles previously described during menopause transition, as well as exhibit unique features not previously recognized in the context of reproductive aging. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010;93:1074-9. (C)2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)