Effects of Undernutrition on Reproductive Function in the Human*

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Abstract
A NUMBER of syndromes have recently been described which are associated with undernutrition and altered reproductive function. The syndromes described in women which include anorexia nervosa, amenorrhea associated with weight loss, bulimia, amenorrhea which occurs after oral contraceptives, postpartum amenorrhea, and amenorrhea associated with exercise all have hormonal patterns suggestive of hypothalamic alterations. Although the mechanisms are unknown, these problems appear to involve abnormalities affecting the central regulatory mechanism responsible for gonadotropin secretion, particularly those regulating pulse frequency, pulse amplitude and sleep associated patterns. These syndromes represent excellent models for the study and understanding of these important hypothalamic mechanisms as well as models for the understanding of puberty and the maturation of the pubertal hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis. Effects of Undernutrition on ReproductiveFunction in the Human The reproductive system, particularly in women, is extremely sensitive to alterations in its environment. The importance of homeostasis is exemplified by the reports of altered cyclicity during conditions of crowding, starvation, weight change, travel, communal living, exercise, and severe stress of any kind (1, 2).

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