Alcohol intake induces diminished ovarian reserve in childbearing age women

Paternal Preconceptional Alcohol Use Disorder With the Offspring's Mortality Risk

INTRODUCTION

Paternal preconceptional alcohol use may contribute to early pregnancy loss. However, the link between paternal preconceptional alcohol use disorder and long-term offspring's mortality risk remains unclear. This study examined the association of paternal preconceptional alcohol use disorder and recency of diagnosis with offspring's mortality and further stratified the mortality after the first year of birth by age.

METHODS

This is a nationwide cohort study with 1,973,174 Danish births (1980-2012), with follow-up from birth until death; emigration; or December 31, 2016. Paternal conceptional alcohol use disorder was identified from Danish National Patient Register and Prescription Registry, categorizing recency of diagnosis into <1 year, 1 to <4 years, 4 to <8 years, and ≥8 years. Logistic regression estimated the ORs and 95% CIs for offspring mortality risk. All data were analyzed in 2023.

RESULTS

Paternal preconceptional alcohol use disorder was associated with a 28% increased mortality after 1 year of birth (95% CI=1.09, 1.51), 23% increased infant mortality (95% CI=1.07, 1.42), and 23% increased odds of stillbirth (95% CI=1.06, 1.43). Paternal alcohol use disorder diagnosed <1 year before conception was associated with an 85%-111% increased risk of mortality in offspring aged 15-40 years. More recent alcohol use disorder diagnosis (i.e., 1 year before conception) had a higher risks of death from infectious and circulatory diseases in offsprings.

CONCLUSIONS

Offspring of fathers with alcohol use disorder before conception had higher mortality risk from birth to early adulthood, especially when alcohol use disorder diagnosis is close to conception. Current awareness regarding paternal preconceptional alcohol dependence use is insufficient. Promoting alcohol dependence avoidance, including educating men on the impact of alcohol on child health during prepregnancy examination, may help reduce or prevent long-term offspring mortality.

The role of neurosteroids in posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder: A review of 10 years of clinical literature and treatment implications

Rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are increasing in men and women and there are high rates of concurrent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and AUD. AUD and PTSD synergistically increase symptomatology and negatively affect treatment outcomes; however, there are very limited pharmacological treatments for PTSD/AUD. Neurosteroids have been implicated in the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of both PTSD and AUD and may be a target for treatment development. This review details the past ten years of research on pregnenolone, progesterone, allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, estradiol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone/dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA/DHEA-S) in the context of PTSD and AUD, including examination of trauma/alcohol-related variables, such as stress-reactivity. Emerging evidence that exogenous pregnenolone, progesterone, and allopregnanolone may be promising, novel interventions is also discussed. Specific emphasis is placed on examining the application of sex as a biological variable in this body of literature, given that women are more susceptible to both PTSD diagnoses and stress-related alcohol consumption.

Effects of air pollution on clinical pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilisation (IVF): a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of air pollution, from oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer, on the results of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in terms of clinical pregnancy rates, at two fertility centres, from 2013 to 2019.

DESIGN

Exploratory retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

This retrospective cohort study was performed in the Reproductive Biology Department of Bordeaux University Hospital localised in Bordeaux, France and the Jean Villar Fertility Center localised in Bruges, France.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 10 763 IVF attempts occurring between January 2013 and December 2019, 2194 of which resulted in a clinical pregnancy.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcome of the IVF attempt was recorded as the presence or absence of a clinical pregnancy; exposure to air pollution was assessed by calculating the cumulative exposure of suspended particulate matter, fine particulate matter, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide and ozone (O₃₎, over the period from oocyte retrieval to embryo transfer, together with secondary exposure due to the presence of the biomass boiler room, which was installed in 2016, close to the Bordeaux University Hospital laboratory. The association between air pollution and IVF outcome was evaluated by a random-effects logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

We found negative associations between cumulative O₃ exposure and clinical pregnancy rate (OR=0.92, 95% CI = (0.86 to 0.98)), and between biomass boiler room exposure and clinical pregnancy rate (OR=0.75, 95% CI = (0.61 to 0.91)), after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

Air pollution could have a negative effect on assisted reproductive technology results and therefore precautions should be taken to minimise the impact of outdoor air on embryo culture.

Low and high postpubertal ethanol use: damage on adulthood reproduction and offspring

Graphical abstract

Abstract

The relationship between adolescent ethanol uses and its impacts throughout life are not conclusive. Thus, we evaluated if the low and high consumption of ethanol at postpuberty interferes with the reproduction and ethanol-naive offspring and if the effects are dose-related. Female and male rats were divided into three groups: low drinker (L), high drinker (H) and control (C). The L and H groups were exposed to ethanol up to 10 % from 65 to 80 days with withdrawal after this period. The ethanol consumed by low drinkers was 1.41 ± 0.21 g/kg/day and by high drinkers 4.59 ± 0.45 g/kg/day. The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase verified the reproductive capacity in adulthood on generations (litter size and sex ratio). Data were collected over 10 years. The second phase analyzed the parent reproductive parameters (body weight, reproductive organ weight, sperm parameters and estrous cycle) and the pup development. We observed a reduced litter size in both drinker groups. Gestational body weight gain and feed consumption were lower in L and H. We observed an alteration in reproductive organs weight in both sexes of H. Females presented a longer estrous cycle duration. Males presented an increase in abnormal sperm, a decrease in sperm count and accelerated transit time. The ethanol-naive offspring development was also impaired. We conclude that low and high postpubertal alcohol use impairs long-term reproductive parameters, even after alcohol withdrawal. There is also impaired ethanol-naive offspring. Besides, the effects are dose-related.

Lay summary

The effects of alcohol use have been reported in several studies. However, better knowledge about early alcohol use and its impact on reproduction in adulthood, after abstinence and on ethanol-naive offspring could help improve preventive measures and mechanisms of action. One of the methods used was retrospective analysis which allows to evaluate the effects of postpubertal ethanol use on the reproductive capacity of rats over generations. Despite our limitations, we verified that the post-adolescent period acts as a susceptibility window, and lifestyle at this age modulates the long-term reproductive parameters. The early ethanol use impairs reproduction function since sperm parameters and the estrous cycle have been altered. The dose of alcohol also contributes to damage on the drinkers’ reproduction and on the physical development of ethanol-naive offspring. Future studies are necessary to identify the mechanism involved in long-term alcohol use effects, even in withdrawal, as well as ethanol-naive offspring outcomes.

Beverage intake and ovarian reserve among women from a fertility center

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations of caffeinated, alcoholic, and sweetened beverage intakes with antral follicle count (AFC), a well-accepted biomarker of ovarian reserve.

DESIGN

Observational prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Fertility center at an academic hospital.

PATIENTS

This study includes 567 women seeking fertility care at the Massachusetts General Hospital who participated in the Environment and Reproductive Health Study.

INTERVENTION

None. Women self-reported consumption of caffeinated (coffee, tea, soda), alcoholic (wine, beer, liquor), sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverages using a validated food-frequency questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Antral follicle count was assessed using a transvaginal ultrasound performed on the 3rd day of an unstimulated menstrual cycle or on the 3rd day of a progesterone withdrawal bleed.

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) age and AFC were 35.0 (32.0-38.0) years and 13.0 (9.0-18.0), respectively. Median (range) intake of caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverages in servings/day were 1.08 (0-7.08), 0.35 (0-3.84), 0.04 (0-4.80), and 0.04 (0-7.50), respectively. All examined beverages were unrelated to AFC. The multivariable adjusted mean AFC (95% confidence interval) for women in the top and bottom quartiles of intake were 13.8 (13.0-14.7) and 13.8 (12.9-14.7) for caffeinated beverages; 13.8 (13.0-14.7) and 13.8 (13.0-14.6) for alcoholic beverages; 13.5 (12.6-14.4) and 13.3 (12.4-14.2) for sugar-sweetened beverages; and 13.2 (12.4-14.1) and 13.4 (12.6-14.3) for artificially sweetened beverages.

CONCLUSION

Low-to-moderate intakes of caffeinated, alcoholic, sugar-sweetened, and artificially sweetened beverages were unrelated to ovarian reserve, as measured by AFC, in a cohort of women seeking fertility care.

Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Risk of Early-Onset Vasomotor Symptoms in Premenopausal Women

The role of alcohol consumption in the risk of vasomotor symptoms (VMS), the most cardinal climacteric symptoms, is not well established. We examined their relationship with early-onset VMS among premenopausal women. Moderately-to-severely bothersome VMS, the primary outcome, was assessed using the Korean version of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. The alcohol consumption categories included lifetime abstainer, former drinker, or current drinker, categorized as light, moderate, heavy, and very heavy. Compared with the lifetime-abstinence (reference), the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (95% CIs) for prevalent VMS in alcohol consumption of <10, 10−19, 20−39, and ≥40 g/day were 1.42 (1.02−1.99), 1.99 (1.27−3.12), 2.06 (1.19−3.57), and 3.52 (1.72−7.20), respectively (p trend <0.01). Compared with the lifetime-abstinence, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for incident bothersome VMS among average alcohol consumption of <10, 10−19, 20−39, and ≥40 g/day were 1.10 (0.85−1.41), 1.03 (0.70−1.51), 1.72 (1.06−2.78), and 2.22 (1.16−4.23), respectively (p trend = 0.02). Increased alcohol consumption positively and consistently showed a relationship with increased risk of both prevalent and incident early-onset VMS. Refraining from alcohol consumption may help prevent bothersome VMS in premenopausal women.

Effects of ethanol and nicotine co-administration on follicular atresia and placental histo-morphology in the first-generation mice pups during intrauterine development and lactation periods

This study is evaluating the effects of ethanol and nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation on placenta histology and follicular atresia in the first-generation (f1) mice pups. The experimental groups were 5 groups of NMRI pregnant mice, including: control, vehicle (received normal saline) ethanol (3 g/kg/day, 20 % v/v intraperitoneally), nicotine (1 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously), and ethanol plus nicotine which received both. Pregnant animals in each group were then divided into two groups, one group for examining the placenta that was treated for 18 days and the other group for the ovary of one-day-old (PND1) and fifty-six-day-old (PND56) female offspring who were treated for 42 days (during intrauterine development and lactation). After the autopsy procedure, histopathological and morphometrical observations were done. Data revealed that the exposed mice had a significant change in the placenta morphometry and histology as well as a marked increase in the number of ovarian TUNEL positive cells on postnatal days 1 and 56. Therefore, maternal exposure to alcohol and nicotine during developmental and lactation periods could lead to changes in the placenta properties as well as an increase in the apoptotic ovarian follicles in f1 mice pups.

Effects of Environment and Lifestyle Factors on Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or primary ovarian failure is defined as a cessation of the menstrual cycle in women younger than 40 years old. It is strictly defined as more than 4 months of oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea in a woman <40 years old, associated with at least two follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels >25 U/L in the menopausal range, detected more than 4 weeks apart. It is estimated that POI was affected 1 and 2% of women. Although 80% of POI cases are of unknown etiology, it is suggested that genetic disorder, autoimmune origin, toxins, and environmental factors, as well as personal lifestyles, may be risk factors of developing POI. In this section, we will discuss the influences of environmental and lifestyle factors on POI. Moreover updated basic research findings regarding how these environmental factors affect female ovarian function via epigenetic regulations will also be discussed.

Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and female fertility

BACKGROUND

Considerable interest has been gathered on the relevant impact of preventable factors, including incorrect lifestyle and unhealthy habits, on female fertility. Smoking, alcohol and addictive drugs consumption represent a major concern, given the broad range of diseases which might be favored or exacerbated by these dependable attitudes. Despite the well-characterized effects of prenatal exposure on pregnancy outcomes and fetus health, a substantial proportion of women of reproductive age is still concerned with these habits. At present, the impact of smoke, alcohol and addictive drugs on women fertility, and, particularly, the specific targets and underlying mechanisms, are still poorly understood or debated, mainly due to the scarcity of well-designed studies, and to numerous biases.

OBJECTIVE

The current review will provide a comprehensive overview of clinical and experimental studies in humans and animals addressing the impact of smoke, alcohol and addictive drugs on female fertility, by also embracing effects on ovary, oviduct, and uterus, with particular reference to primary endpoints such as ovarian reserve, steroidogenesis, ovulation and menstrual cycle, oviduct function and uterus receptivity and implantation. A brief focus on polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis will be also included.

METHODS

A Pubmed literature search was performed with selected keywords; articles were individually retrieved by each author. No limitation was set for publication date. Articles in languages other than English were excluded. Additional articles were retrieved from references list of selected manuscripts.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Currently, the most consistent evidences of a detrimental effect of smoke, alcohol and addictive drugs on specific domains of the female reproductive function are provided by experimental studies in animals. Overall, clinical studies suggest that smoking is associated to decreased fertility, although causal inference should be further demonstrated. Studies addressing the effect of alcohol consumption on female fertility provide conflicting results, although the majority reported lack of a correlation. Extremely scarce studies investigated the effects of addictive drugs on female fertility, and the specific actions of selected drugs have been difficult to address, due to multidrug consumption.

Functional hypothalamic and drug-induced amenorrhea: an overview

BACKGROUND

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is a form of chronic anovulation not due to identifiable organic causes and with adverse health consequences. The identification of women with this disorder or the precocious identification of women at risk is based on the knowledge of lifestyle risk factors or behaviors such as stress, weight loss, and excessive physical exercise that are known to negatively impact gonadal axis activity.

METHODS

In this overview, we described the most common forms of FHA, in particular stress-induced amenorrhea and overtraining-induced amenorrhea. In addition, although its mechanisms can differ from those involved in FHA, we reviewed the available literature on drug-induced amenorrhea, highlighting the clear connection between this condition and psychoactive drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants and anti-epilectics thus raising concern about the role that the abuse of substances such as opioids or alcohol can possibly have on the growing unexplained infertility of the female population.

Correlations between sex-related hormones, alcohol dependence and alcohol craving

BACKGROUND

Sex-related differences in the susceptibility, progression, and treatment response in alcohol-dependent subjects have been repeatedly reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of the sex-related hormone/protein levels with alcohol dependence (AD) and alcohol craving in male and female subjects.

METHODS

Plasma sex-related hormones (estradiol, estrone, total testosterone, progesterone, follicle stimulated hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone), and sex hormone binding globulin were measured by mass spectrometry or automated immunoassays from 44 recently-abstained subjects (29 males and 15 females; mean age = 45.9 ± 15.6) meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for AD and 44 age-, sex- and race-matched non-AD controls. Conditional logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of sex-related hormone and protein levels with AD risk, accounting for matching variables. Their associations with alcohol craving scales (Penn Alcohol Craving Scale and Inventory of Drug-Taking Situations) were assessed in AD subjects.

RESULTS

Plasma FSH level was significantly higher in AD males (10.3 ± 9.8 IU/L) than control males (8.0 ± 15.9 IU/L; p = 0.005, p_corrected = 0.035). We also found a significant inverse correlation of FSH level with propensity to drink in negative emotional situations (Spearman's rho=-.540; p = 0.021) and positive correlations between progesterone level and craving intensity (Spearman's rho=.464; p = 0.020) and between total testosterone level and propensity to drink under temptations (adjusted for no-drinking days; β=6.496; p = 0.041) in AD males.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that FSH, progesterone, and testosterone levels may be associated with AD and alcohol craving in AD males. Future research is needed to replicate these findings and investigate the underlying biological mechanisms.

Association between premature ovarian insufficiency, early menopause, socioeconomic status in a nationally representative sample from Korea

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether, in the Korean population, the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause varies with a woman's socioeconomic status, evaluated in relation to income, education, and occupation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, population-based study involved 31,508 women aged >19 years registered in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2007-2016). Menopausal status and socioeconomic status were obtained from self-reported KNHANES data. A logistic regression model was applied to test whether POI and early menopause varied with socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

The prevalence of POI was 2.41% and of early menopause was 5.89%. The annual incidence of POI during the investigation period plateaued, while that of early menopause showed a linear trend. The risk of POI was significantly higher among participants with lower household incomes (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.44, 1.16-1.78) and lower levels of education (OR, 95% CI: 1.75, 1.16-2.65) after adjustment for age.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of POI in the Korean population was almost twice that reported in a previous study. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with an increased risk of POI and early menopause. Further studies are warranted to investigate this association.

Relationship between alcohol consumption and age at menopause: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE

We used data from the 2011-2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) to investigate whether the age at menopause is related to alcohol consumption in South Korean women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of the data for 940 women who became menopausal within the 3 years preceding the KNHANES.

RESULTS

The numbers of nondrinkers, mild to moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers in this group were 345 (34.7%), 573 (62.2%), and 22 (3%). Body mass index (BMI), smoking, and exercise were adjusted in model 1 and age was additionally adjusted in model 2. The mean ages at menopause were 51.6 ± 0.2, 50.8 ± 0.1, and 50.4 ± 0.5 years (p = 0.0025) in model 1 and 51.7 ± 0.2, 51.1 ± 0.1, and 50.1 ± 0.5 years (p = 0.0018) in model 2 for nondrinkers, mild to moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers, respectively. BMI, smoking, exercise, educational level, income, duration of menopause, age at menarche, age at first delivery, and gravidity were adjusted in model 3, and the respective mean ages at menopause were 51.3 ± 0.2, 50.7 ± 0.2, and 50.1 ± 0.8 years (p = 0.0402). The population was classified into groups using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores of <5 (n = 778), <10 (n = 108), and ≥10 score (n = 54). The mean ages at menopause according to AUDIT score were 51.3 ± 0.1, 50.5 ± 0.3, and 50.4 ± 0.4 years (p = 0.0222, model 1), 51.4 ± 0.1, 50.8 ± 0.3, and 50.8 ± 0.3 years (p = 0.0261, model 2), and 51.1 ± 0.1, 50.6 ± 0.4, and 49.5 ± 0.6 years (p = 0.0241, model 3) respectively.

CONCLUSION

In Korean women, alcohol consumption was associated with younger age at menopause. A higher AUDIT score was also related to younger age at menopause.

Alcohol, cigarette smoking, and ovarian reserve in reproductive-age African-American women

BACKGROUND

Although alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are common behaviors in reproductive-age women, little is known about the impact of consumption patterns on ovarian reserve. Even less is known about the effects of smoking and alcohol use in reproductive-age African-American women.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to examine the impact of the patterns of alcohol intake and cigarette smoking on anti-Müllerian hormone levels as a marker of ovarian reserve in African-American women.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional analysis from the baseline clinical visit and data collection of the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids performed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. A total of 1654 volunteers, aged 23-34 years, recruited from the Detroit, Michigan community completed questionnaires on alcohol intake and cigarette smoking and provided serum for anti-Müllerian hormone measurement. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used as appropriate to estimate the effect of a range of exposure patterns on anti-Müllerian hormone levels while adjusting for potential confounders including age, body mass index, and hormonal contraception.

RESULTS

Most participants were alcohol drinkers (74%). Of those, the majority (74%) engaged in binge drinking at least once in the last year. Women who reported binge drinking twice weekly or more had 26% lower anti-Müllerian hormone levels compared with current drinkers who never binged (95% confidence interval, -44, -2, P < .04). Other alcohol consumption patterns (both past and current) were unrelated to anti-Müllerian hormone. The minority of participants currently (19%) or formerly (7%) smoked, and only 4% of current smokers used a pack a day or more. Neither smoking status nor second-hand smoke exposure in utero, childhood, or adulthood was associated with anti-Müllerian hormone levels.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that current, frequent binge drinking may have an adverse impact on ovarian reserve. Other drinking and smoking exposures were not associated with anti-Müllerian hormone in this cohort of healthy, young, African-American women. A longitudinal study of how these common lifestyle behaviors have an impact on the variability in age-adjusted anti-Müllerian hormone levels is merited.

Association of alcohol consumption with the onset of natural menopause: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Early onset of menopause is associated with long-term health risks, including cardiovascular disease and premature death. Although alcohol intake has been suggested to affect the age at which natural menopause occurs, results from observational studies are not consistent.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

In the view of the differing risks to the health of early menopause and the increasing trends in alcohol consumption in women, in this systematic review, we aimed to quantify the association between all levels of alcohol consumption and menopause onset.

SEARCH METHODS

Six electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science) were systematically searched until 4 November 2015 to identify relevant studies assessing the association between alcohol consumption and onset of menopause. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of all initially identified studies according to the selection criteria. Studies were sought if they (i) were observational cross-sectional, prospective and interventional studies, (ii) had reported on natural onset of menopause, (iii) had reported on alcohol consumption, (iv) had assessed the association between alcohol consumption and menopause onset, (v) were conducted in humans and (vi) were not conducted in patients with cancer. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers using a predesigned data-collection form. The primary exposure variable was the presence of active alcohol drinking at baseline compared with a reference group of non-drinkers. Pooled relative risks (RRs) were calculated.

OUTCOMES

Of the 1193 references (all in English language) reviewed for eligibility, 22 articles based on 20 unique studies were included in the final analysis. A total of 41 339 and 63 868 non-overlapping women were included in the meta-analysis of cross-sectional and observational cohort studies, respectively. In cross-sectional studies, the pooled RR for earlier onset of menopause was 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-0.96) between drinkers versus non-drinkers. Analysis of the levels of alcohol consumed showed that low and moderate alcohol consumption (more than one drink per week (RR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.49-0.75) and three or fewer drinks per week (RR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60-0.94)) were associated with later menopause onset, compared to non-drinkers. In prospective studies, RR for earlier menopause onset was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91-0.98) when comparing women who reported drinking alcohol versus women who did not. Analysis of the dose of alcohol consumed showed that low-to-moderate alcohol intake (0-8 g/day (RR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93-0.98), and 16 g/day (RR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.86-0.92)) was associated with later menopause onset, compared to non-drinking.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

The findings of this review indicate that alcohol consumption, particularly low and moderate alcohol intake, might be associated with later onset of menopause although the magnitude of the association is low. Further studies are needed to corroborate these findings, clarify the level of alcohol intake at which menopause is delayed and identify the potential mechanisms behind this association.

The Associations Between Body Mass Index, Smoking, and Alcohol Intake with Ovarian Volume in Midlife Women

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that ovarian volume is a marker of reproductive aging, there is little understanding of factors related to ovarian volume among aging women. The objective of this analysis was to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake with ovarian volume among midlife women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were analyzed from 771 women (45-54 years of age at baseline) enrolled in the Midlife Women's Health Study, a cohort study that was initiated in 2006. At annual clinic visits, height and weight were measured, a transvaginal ultrasound was performed to measure ovarian volume, blood was drawn to measure hormone concentrations, and a comprehensive questionnaire was administered. Generalized linear models and repeated measures mixed models were conducted to examine the associations between BMI, cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake with ovarian volume, adjusting for age and race.

RESULTS

Age was significantly and negatively associated with ovarian volume. However, BMI, smoking, and alcohol use were not associated with ovarian volume either when stratified by menopausal status or when adjusting for age and race. Estradiol, but not progesterone or testosterone, was significantly and positively associated with ovarian volume overall and among both white and black participants (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into the associations between BMI, smoking, and alcohol use with ovarian volume among midlife women. The findings are somewhat consistent with the published literature and, thus, indicate that these factors may not be clinically important in terms of ovarian volume during the menopausal transition.

Long-term effects of methamphetamine exposure in adolescent mice on the future ovarian reserve in adulthood

Currently, there is an increasing prevalence of adolescent exposure to methamphetamine (MA). However, there is a paucity of information concerning the long-term impact of early exposure to MA upon female fertility and ovarian reserve. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term MA exposure in adolescents on their ovarian reserve in adulthood. Adolescent mice received intraperitoneal injections of MA (5mg/kg, three times per week) or saline from the 21st postnatal day for an 8 week period. Morphological, histological, biochemical, hormonal and ethological parameters were evaluated. An impaired ovarian reserve and vitality was found in the group treated with MA, manifesting in morphological-apparent mitochondrial damage, an activated apoptosis pathway in the ovarian tissue, a downward expression of ovarian anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), a decreased number of primordial and growing follicles, an increased number of atretic follicles, and a depressed secretion of AMH, estradiol and progesterone from granulosa cells. However, no significant difference was noticed regarding the estrous cycle, the mating ability and the fertility outcome in the reproductive age of the mice after a period of non-medication. The present results confirmed that a long term exposure to methamphetamine in adolescent mice does have an adverse impact on their ovarian reserve, which indicates that such an early abuse of MA might influence the fertility lifespan of the female mouse.

Sex and gender-related differences in alcohol use and its consequences: Contemporary knowledge and future research considerations

AIMS

To review the contemporary evidence reflecting male/female differences in alcohol use and its consequences along with the biological (sex-related) and psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) factors associated with those differences.

METHODS

MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched for relevant publications, which were subsequently screened for the presence/absence of pre-specified criteria for high quality evidence.

RESULTS

Compared to men, more women are lifetime abstainers, drink less, and are less likely to engage in problem drinking, develop alcohol-related disorders or alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, women drinking excessively develop more medical problems. Biological (sex-related) factors, including differences in alcohol pharmacokinetics as well as its effect on brain function and the levels of sex hormones may contribute to some of those differences. In addition, differences in alcohol effects on behavior may also be driven by psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) factors. This is evident by variation in the magnitude of differences in alcohol use between countries, decreasing difference in the rates of alcohol consumption in recent generations and other findings. Evidence indicates that both sex and gender-related factors are interacting with alcohol use in complex manner, which differentially impacts the risk for development of the behavioral or medical problems and alcohol use disorders in men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Discovery of the mechanisms underlying biological (sex-related) as well as psycho-socio-cultural (gender-related) differences in alcohol use and related disorders is needed for development of personalized recommendations for prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorders and related problems in men and women.

Menstrual characteristics and night work among nurses

Night work has been associated with adverse effects in terms of reproductive health. Specifically, menstruation has been suggested to be negatively impacted by night work, which again may influence fertility. This study investigated whether working nights is related to menstrual characteristics and if there is a relationship between shift work disorder (SWD) and menstruation. The study was cross-sectional, response rate 38%. The sample comprised female nurses who were members of the Norwegian Nurses Association; below 50 yr of age, who were not pregnant, did not use hormonal pills or intrauterine devices and who had not reached menopause (n=766). The nurses answered a postal survey including questions about night work and menstrual characteristics. Fifteen per cent reported to have irregular menstruations. Thirty-nine per cent of the nurses were classified as having SWD. Logistic regression analyses concerning the relationship between irregular menstruations and night work did not show any associations. Furthermore, no associations were found between cycle length or bleeding period and night work parameters. No associations were found between menstrual characteristics and SWD.

Effects of alcohol on the endocrine system

Chronic consumption of a large amount of alcohol disrupts the communication between nervous, endocrine, and immune system and causes hormonal disturbances that lead to profound and serious consequences at physiologic and behavioral levels. These alcohol-induced hormonal dysregulations affect the entire body and can result in various disorders such as stress abnormalities, reproductive deficits, body growth defect, thyroid problems, immune dysfunction, cancers, bone disease, and psychological and behavioral disorders. This review summarizes the findings from human and animal studies that provide consistent evidence on the various effects of alcohol abuse on the endocrine system.