Infertility in women is often due to a lack of estrogen. In addition to helping with procreation, estrogen is one of the body's most effective antioxidants. In women, the significant presence of estrogen serves to protect the body from potentially harmful conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

 

This is one reason estrogen is so important. The presence of this antioxidant enables the body to better neutralize free radicals, which have an accumulative effect over time, slowly damaging the body's tissue. It is thought that free radicals contribute to the aging process, though what these connections are is still being understood. When free radicals damage enough cells, however, disease and aging are the result.

 

So what happens when normal levels of estrogen are lower or absent in a woman? When a hormonal imbalance interrupts the monthly ovulation cycle, does the body endure a measurably higher level of oxidative stress?

 

That is the question researchers with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) are investigating. This study may also shed light on decreased fertility as well as understanding the other metabolic issues suffered by infertile women. Leading the study is reproductive endocrinologist Raymond Ke, MD, the director of in vitro fertilization services at Fertility Associates of Memphis and an associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology at UTHSC. Ke is working in collaboration with Professor Richard Bloomer, an exercise physiologist with the University of Memphis. Together, they're conducting a study on young women ages 21 to 35, who have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

 

PCOS is the most common cause of hormone imbalance and infertility in young women. It is believed to affect 1 in 15 women nationally, according to the WebMD Web site. What causes PCOS? Normally, a woman's ovaries produce a tiny amount of androgen, a male sex hormone. But for women with PCOS, the production of androgen is slightly higher. This increased production of androgen leads to the presence of male attributes, including facial hair, acne, and extra body hair. A higher presence of androgen can also stop the body from menstruating. The bodies of women with PCOS might also have difficulty utilizing insulin properly. When blood sugar levels are elevated for extended periods of time, diabetes can be the result. In addition, women with PCOS grow cysts on their ovaries. While the cysts themselves are not harmful, they contribute to the hormonal imbalance.

 

Women with PCOS often don't menstruate due to low estrogen levels. And since estrogen is an antioxidant, they don't receive the benefit that the hormone provides, which can have long-term implications. Thus, this current study will examine oxidative stress levels between infertile women with PCOS who have altered menstrual cycles and fertile women who have regular cycles. The aim is to learn whether women with PCOS have a higher level of oxidative stress than women without PCOS. In addition, the researchers hope to measure the impact of antioxidant therapy in PCOS in the future.

The project will test women during one menstrual cycle, looking at blood markers and comparing hormonal levels throughout the cycle. "We'll compare oxidative stress levels between women, but we'll also look at estrogen levels to see if these are high or low," said Ke. "If the oxidative stress levels are higher in the women with PCOS, then it could also explain why these women have other metabolic problems in life, like heart disease and diabetes."

 

As researchers gain a better grasp of the effect of oxidative stress, it might lead to improved medications. "Fertility medications are given to women now with PCOS, but doctors are always searching for something better. Pregnancy is the short-term goal, but the women still need to be treated, even after their fertility is an issue," said Ke. Many women, once fertility is no longer a consideration, want to forget about PCOS.

 

"Doctors don't always look for PCOS. Sometimes, it gets ignored because women don't mind not having a menstrual cycle. But doctors should treat it and make sure the patient's cycle is kept regular. If you treat PCOS, you can protect women against long-term issues."