Resistance of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Drive to Sex Steroid-Induced Suppression in Hyperandrogenic Anovulation

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Abstract
Women with hyperandrogenic anovulation (HAA) exhibit increased GnRH drive, as evidenced by a faster LH pulse frequency that slows in response to progestin-induced opioidergic tone. To determine whether increased GnRH-LH drive in HAA reflects altered sex steroid exposure caused by chronic anovulation or is an intrinsic hypothalamic attribute, we compared the pulsatile LH response to oral contraceptive (OC)-in- duced suppression in seven women with HAA, with that of seven eum- enorrheic women (EW). LH levels were determined at 10-min intervals for 12 h after 19-21 days of OC use and 5-7 days after cessation. Testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, FSH, and LH levels were de- termined at weekly intervals before, during, and after OC use. LH pulse number/12 h was higher (P , 0.001) in HAA during and after OCs, when compared with that of EW. Mean LH was increased in HAA before, during, and after OCs. Testosterone, androstenedione, and estradiol levels were higher in HAA before OCs, but they de- creased to similar levels during OC use in both groups. FSH concen- trations were similar before and during OCs but rose more after cessation of OCs in EW. These findings indicate that GnRH drive in HAA is resistant to OC-induced suppression and, therefore, could be an intrinsic hypothalamic attribute. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 82: 4179 - 4183, 1997)

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