Menstruatie(stoornissen) in de puberteit: het vervolg

Irregular menstrual cycles during puberty have been considered part of development, explained by incomplete maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis. A distinction between developmental and pathological causes of abnormal menstrual cycle patterns in adolescents is meaningful as pathologic causes - especially polycystic ovary syndrome - may be associated with subfertility, due to ovulatory dysfunction later in life, and long-term health risks concerning metabolic and cardiovascular health. To study the relationship between adolescent cycle abnormalities and the development of young adult ovulatory dysfunction presenting as oligomenorrhoea or normogonadotropic amenorrhoea, comprehensive data was collected prospectively between 1990-1997 from 294 adolescent girls in ‘The POMP study’ (Pubertal Onset of Menstrual cycle abnormalities, a Prospective study). This study was performed by the division of Reproductive Medicine from the VU University Medical Center (VUMC) in collaboration with the Youth Health services from Amstelland – de Meerlanden, Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Because data in this field are scarce, combining data collected in this adolescent study with information obtained from these individuals as adults in this follow-up study, may provide valuable and unique data.This follow-up study can help to elucidate the relation between cycle irregularities at adolescence and the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in adulthood presenting with with subfertility, metabolic and cardiovascular health risks. In the future adolescents at risk that are identified, may benefit from solid education and lifestyle adaptation. Therefore a distinction between developmental and pathologic causes of abnormal menstrual cycle patterns is meaningful.

This observational, prospective, cohort follow-up study contains a questionnaire, including the following subjects: general health, menstrual cycle pattern, fertility history/performance and pregnancy outcome.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Polycystic ovary syndrome associated subfertility due to ovulation dysfunction and PCOS associated metabolic and cardiovascular health problems.

Rationale: Irregular menstrual cycles during puberty have been considered part of development, explained by incomplete maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis. A distinction between developmental and pathological causes of abnormal menstrual cycle patterns in adolescents is meaningful as pathologic causes - especially polycystic ovary syndrome - may be associated with subfertility, due to ovulatory dysfunction later in life, and long-term health risks concerning metabolic and cardiovascular health. To study the relationship between adolescent cycle abnormalities and the development of young adult ovulatory dysfunction presenting as oligomenorrhoea or normogonadotropic amenorrhoea, comprehensive data was collected prospectively between 1990-1997 from 294 adolescent girls in ‘The POMP study’ (Pubertal Onset of Menstrual cycle abnormalities, a Prospective study). This study was performed by the division of Reproductive Medicine from the VU University Medical Center (VUMC) in collaboration with the Youth Health services from Amstelland – de Meerlanden, Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Because data in this field are scarce, combining data collected in this adolescent study with information obtained from these individuals as adults in this follow-up study, may provide valuable and unique data.This follow-up study can help to elucidate the relation between cycle irregularities at adolescence and the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in adulthood presenting with with subfertility, metabolic and cardiovascular health risks. In the future adolescents at risk that are identified, may benefit from solid education and lifestyle adaptation. Therefore a distinction between developmental and pathologic causes of abnormal menstrual cycle patterns is meaningful.

Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the association of menstrual cycle pattern combined with body and endocrine characteristics in adolescence (age 15-18 years) and presentation of polycystic ovary syndrome in adulthood.

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Questionnaire