Lifetime psychiatric illness and premenstrual syndromes.

The frequency of affective symptoms in most descriptions of premenstrual syndromes (PMS) suggests a potential etiologic link between menstrually-related mood changes and specific psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study is to assess women presenting with "PMS" for lifetime psychiatric illness and PMS, according to rigorous diagnostic criteria comparable to those for "late luteal phase disorder," a proposed DSM-III-R diagnosis requiring further study. The women were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Lifetime Version (SADS-L) and they kept prospective records of menstrual symptoms with the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire - Form T (Moos MDQ-T).

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in high-risk cancer patients.

Menopausal estrogens are now being prescribed not only for symptom relief, but also to prevent the long-term sequelae of estrogen deficiency, namely osteoporosis and atherosclerotic disease. The well-established association between endometrial cancer and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has become less of a clinical concern due to the recognition of the protective effect of progestogens in this setting. A small literature has emerged suggesting that extending ERT to the woman with a history of endometrial carcinoma imposes no increased risk of recurrence and may improve survival.

Secondary hypogonadism in hemochromatosis.

Hemochromatosis is a rare disorder of iron storage. This report illustrates a case of hypogonadotropic-hypogonadism in a female with biopsy-proven hemochromatosis. Dynamic pituitary and gonadal testing revealed subnormal gonadotropin responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) but normal ovarian reserve, as shown by normal follicular stimulation with hMG.

Luteal rescue in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

The luteal phase hormone profiles of two groups participating in the Yale in vitro fertilization (IVF) program were compared. A control group (group I) consisted of 28 women (28 cycles) who received our standard ovulation induction regimen (no luteal phase support). The treatment group (group II) consisted of 40 women (42 cycles) who were prospectively studied after receiving luteal phase support with 10,000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 5 days after the initial hCG dose.

Reduced bone mass in reproductive-aged women with endometriosis.

Cortical and trabecular bone masses were measured by quantitative computed tomography of the distal radius in 41 women (30 +/- 1 yr) with endometriosis documented by laparoscopy and compared to those in 35 normal women (32 +/- 1 yr). Hormonal status was assessed, and a subset of 10 women with endometriosis underwent evaluation of calcium absorption and excretion. Menstrual cycles were regular in all women, and hormonal medication had not been administered during the 3 months before evaluation.