Hormone Therapy for Women and Men: Contraception, Antiaging, Menopause and Andropause Treatment

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Endocrinology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2021) | Viewed by 12942

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1st Obstetrical and Gynaecology Department, The Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
Interests: pregnancy; menopausal medicine;obstetrics;perinatology;gynecological endocrinology;andrology
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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Women’s Health, Institute of Rural Health in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: endocrine gynecology; reproductive endocrinology; endocrine diseases in pregnancy; infertility; menopause; antiaging medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Given that about 40% of the population is past reproductive age, research concerning the menopausal period and related medicine needs to be intensified. This Special Issue of Medicina will focus on the somatic and mental aspects of quality of life in menopausal and post-menopausal women as well as the efficacy and safety of related medical interventions. There are many unanswered questions in this area, such as the use of contraception on the border of reproductive age, the times for starting hormonal therapy and finishing HTM, the role of genes in the effectiveness of HTM, and the prevention of mental and physical disability after menopause. Clinical, epidemiological, biological, and molecular studies are especially in our scope of interest.

Andropause describes the gradual decrease of androgenic activity in males. As far as its definition, diagnosis, and treatment options are concerned, significant research into andropause is still required. Thus, we also encourage authors to submit articles concerning males’ quality of life and fertility as well as the prevention of disability.

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Jakiel
Prof. Dr. Iwona Bojar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • menopause
  • andropause
  • late onset hypogonadism
  • menopausal treatment
  • hormonal therapy of menopause
  • antiaging therapy
  • menopause and metabolism
  • hormonal therapy and disability prevention

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 717 KiB  
Article
Impact of Contraception on Uterine Fibroids
by Katarzyna Kwas, Aleksandra Nowakowska, Angelika Fornalczyk, Magda Krzycka, Anna Nowak, Jacek Wilczyński and Maria Szubert
Medicina 2021, 57(7), 717; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina57070717 - 16 Jul 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3978
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Uterine fibroids develop in 25–40% of women of childbearing age; however, there are discrepancies resulting from population and socioeconomic differences. The pathogenesis of fibroids is not clear. The aim of the study was to assess the potential connection between [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Uterine fibroids develop in 25–40% of women of childbearing age; however, there are discrepancies resulting from population and socioeconomic differences. The pathogenesis of fibroids is not clear. The aim of the study was to assess the potential connection between the use of oral contraceptives and the occurrence of uterine fibroids in women of childbearing age. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, survey, case–control study, data were collected from Caucasian female patients (mean age = 30) using a questionnaire concerning the onset, duration and form of hormonal contraception, and medical and obstetrical history. The questionnaires were handed personally to hospitalized patients as well as distributed through Google forms on social media. Results: In a study group (n = 140) of patients using hormonal contraception, 37.8% of them were diagnosed with uterine fibroids, whereas among the patients not using hormonal contraception (n = 206), uterine fibroids were diagnosed in 59.6% of the patients. The most common hormonal contraception was two-component hormonal tablets used by 93.3% of the patients. Taking contraceptives was a uterine fibroids protective factor (OR = 0.4, p = 0.007). In the study group, 5.5% of the patients were pregnant and 60.42% were diagnosed with uterine fibroids (OR = 4.4, p < 0.000001). Conclusion: Contraception was found to be a protective factor for uterine fibroids among the women surveyed. The presented data confirm the theory about the hormonal dependence of uterine fibroids. Full article
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10 pages, 1943 KiB  
Article
A Novel Fertility Indicator Equation Using Estradiol Levels for Assessment of Phase of the Menstrual Cycle
by Stephen J. Usala and A. Alexandre Trindade
Medicina 2020, 56(11), 555; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina56110555 - 22 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3258
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Urinary hormone home monitoring assays are now available for fertility awareness methods (FAMs) of family planning, but lack sensitivity and precision in establishing the start of the fertile phase. We hypothesized that with a suitable algorithm, daily serum or [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Urinary hormone home monitoring assays are now available for fertility awareness methods (FAMs) of family planning, but lack sensitivity and precision in establishing the start of the fertile phase. We hypothesized that with a suitable algorithm, daily serum or blood estradiol (E2) levels could serve as a better analyte to determine the phase of the ovulatory cycle and the fertile start day (FSD). Materials and Methods: Published day-specific serum E2 levels, indexed to the serum luteinizing hormone (LH) peak, were analyzed from three independent laboratories for a threshold for a FSD. A fertility indicator quation (FIE) was discovered and tested with these data and a FSD was determined using the mean or median and variance ranges of the day-specific E2 data. Results: The considerable variance of day-specific serum E2 levels made an absolute serum E2 indicator for phase of cycle problematic. However, a FIE was discovered which maps the day-specific E2 levels of the ovulatory cycle enabling the fertile phase and transition to the luteal phase to be signaled. In this equation, FIE(D) is the value of FIE on day, D, of the cycle and has both a magnitude and sign. The magnitude of FIE(D) is the product of the normalized change in day-specific E2 levels over two consecutive intervals, (D-2, D-1) and (D-1, D), multiplied by 100, and is formulated as: (E2 (on D-1) − E2 (on D-2))/E2 (on D-2) × (E2(on D) − E2 (on D-1))/E2 (on D-1) × 100. The sign of FIE(D) is either + or − or ind (indeterminate) and is assigned on the basis of the direction of this product. Using a FIE threshold of ≥2.5 as the start of the fertile phase, the FSDs were Day −5 or Day −6, with FSD Day −4 for an outlier set of E2 levels. The maximum FIE value ranged 9.5–27.8 and occurred most often on Day −2. An inflection point with a large change in FIE magnitude and change in sign from + to − always occurred at Day 0 for all sets of day-specific E2 data signaling transition to the luteal phase. Conclusions: The fertility indicator equation, a product of two sequential normalized changes in serum E2 levels with a sign indicating confidence in direction of change, is powerful in identifying the fertile phase and subsequent transition to the postovulatory phase and may serve as a useful algorithm for FAMs of family planning. Full article
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12 pages, 367 KiB  
Article
Depression, Metabolic Syndrome, Serum TSH, and Vitamin D Concentrations in Rural and Urban Postmenopausal Women
by Iwona Bojar, Dorota Raczkiewicz and Beata Sarecka-Hujar
Medicina 2020, 56(10), 511; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina56100511 - 30 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2111
Abstract
Background and objectives: Depression is a serious problem affecting people worldwide, however it more commonly concerns women. Depression reduces the quality of life and, in many cases, leads to suicide. Numerous new biological factors have been demonstrated to have an impact on the [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Depression is a serious problem affecting people worldwide, however it more commonly concerns women. Depression reduces the quality of life and, in many cases, leads to suicide. Numerous new biological factors have been demonstrated to have an impact on the pathogenesis of depression, including vitamin D, thyroid hormones, as well as factors related to heart disease. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and vitamin D concentrations as well as metabolic syndrome on the severity of depression in Polish postmenopausal women from urban and rural areas. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 2018–2019 in the Lublin region, Poland, and comprised 396 postmenopausal women (239 living in rural areas and 157 living in urban areas). Metabolic syndrome criteria according to the International Diabetes Federation and Beck Depression Inventory were used, and laboratory blood tests were performed. Results: A significantly higher percentage of the examined rural residents had moderate or severe depression in comparison to the urban ones (p = 0.049). The examined women from rural areas had a significantly higher serum vitamin D concentration in comparison to the urban ones (p < 0.001). The rural residents more commonly had below-normal levels of serum TSH and less commonly had normal levels in comparison to the urban residents. Metabolic syndrome was found in 70% of the rural residents, and that number was significantly lower in the urban ones (22%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The severity of depression in postmenopausal Polish women was correlated negatively with the serum TSH concentration in women from rural areas. The severity of depression was increased in urban postmenopausal women with hypertension. No correlation of the depression severity with the serum vitamin D concentration or other criteria of metabolic syndrome was found. Full article
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9 pages, 1250 KiB  
Article
Cervical-Vaginal Mucin in Fertility Assessment: CA125 as a Predictor of the Fertile Phase of the Normal Menstrual Cycle
by A. Alexandre Trindade and Stephen J. Usala
Medicina 2020, 56(6), 304; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina56060304 - 20 Jun 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2953
Abstract
To evaluate the cervical-vaginal mucin, CA125, as a measure of fertility and possible method for natural family planning (NFP). Cervical-vaginal fluid (CVF) swab samples have been previously used to measure CA125, ‘Qvaginal CA125 levels’, as a function of time of cycle relative to [...] Read more.
To evaluate the cervical-vaginal mucin, CA125, as a measure of fertility and possible method for natural family planning (NFP). Cervical-vaginal fluid (CVF) swab samples have been previously used to measure CA125, ‘Qvaginal CA125 levels’, as a function of time of cycle relative to Day 0, the first day of positive urine LH (luteinizing hormone). Data from 15 women, 20 cycles were used with an algorithm to establish the Fertile Start Day (FSD) for the cycles. The FSD was determined as either the second consecutive day of ≥20% Qvaginal CA125 rise or the first day of ≥400% rise. The interval, (FSD to Day +3), was used as the theoretical window of fertility, and conception rates assuming abstinence during this predicted period of fertility were computed using published day-specific probabilities of conception (PoC). The mean FSD was Day −4.8 ± 0.5 (SE), 95% CI (−5.9, −3.7). The estimated pregnancy failure rate (PFR) with abstinence during [FSD, +3] was 10.7% ± 2.0% (SE), 95% CI (6.9%, 14.8%); with exclusion of one cycle with very low levels of Qvaginal CA125, the estimated PFR was 9.8% ± 1.9%, 95% CI (6.3%, 13.8%). Furthermore, the day-specific Qvaginal CA125 values were normalized to the respective peak Qvaginal CA125 for each cycle, and a mean normalized day-specific Qvaginal CA125 plot was generated. The first derivative of the mean normalized day-specific Qvaginal CA125 plot showed a significant increase between Day −4.5 and Day −3.5, which correlated with the mean FSD. A Qvaginal CA125-based method holds promise as a means to identify the start of the fertile window and may prove useful in NFP, especially when combined with available home hormonal fertility awareness kits. Full article
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