Correlation of reproductive aging with function in selected organ systems.

OBJECTIVE

To compare day 3 FSH levels with biomarkers of aging in other organ systems in healthy, older, reproductive age women.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional pilot study.

SETTING

Healthy volunteers in an academic, tertiary care center.

PATIENT(S): Healthy, regularly cycling women aged 40 to 45 years divided into two groups: those with normal day 3 FSH levels and those with elevated day 3 FSH levels.

INTERVENTION(S): Blood and urine collection with blood pressure measurement, pulmonary function testing, bone densitometry, and skin biopsy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison between groups for serum creatinine, albumin, glucose, hematocrit, DHEAS, fasting insulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; creatinine clearance (CrCl); forced expiratory volume in 1 second; forced vital capacity; bone density at the wrist, hip, and lumbar spine; and mean dermal thickness.

RESULT(S): Hematocrit and CrCl values were significantly lower in the group with high FSH levels. Creatinine clearance also was significantly negatively correlated with FSH level. After Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing, all measures were no longer different at the P < or = 0.05 level.

CONCLUSION(S): Aging of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis may parallel aging in other organ systems. Further longitudinal analyses are necessary to ascertain whether these measures will predict reproductive reserve before irreversible dysfunction occurs.