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Eng PC, Phylactou M, Qayum A, Woods C, Lee H, Aziz S, Moore B, Miras AD, Comninos AN, Tan T, Franks S, Dhillo WS, Abbara A. Obesity-Related Hypogonadism in Women. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:171-189. [PMID: 37559411 PMCID: PMC10911953 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Obesity-related hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a well-characterized condition in men (termed male obesity-related secondary hypogonadism; MOSH); however, an equivalent condition has not been as clearly described in women. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known to increase with obesity, but PCOS is more typically characterized by increased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (and by proxy luteinizing hormone; LH) pulsatility, rather than by the reduced gonadotropin levels observed in MOSH. Notably, LH levels and LH pulse amplitude are reduced with obesity, both in women with and without PCOS, suggesting that an obesity-related secondary hypogonadism may also exist in women akin to MOSH in men. Herein, we examine the evidence for the existence of a putative non-PCOS "female obesity-related secondary hypogonadism" (FOSH). We précis possible underlying mechanisms for the occurrence of hypogonadism in this context and consider how such mechanisms differ from MOSH in men, and from PCOS in women without obesity. In this review, we consider relevant etiological factors that are altered in obesity and that could impact on GnRH pulsatility to ascertain whether they could contribute to obesity-related secondary hypogonadism including: anti-Müllerian hormone, androgen, insulin, fatty acid, adiponectin, and leptin. More precise phenotyping of hypogonadism in women with obesity could provide further validation for non-PCOS FOSH and preface the ability to define/investigate such a condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Chia Eng
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549
| | - Maria Phylactou
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ambreen Qayum
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Casper Woods
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Hayoung Lee
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sara Aziz
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Benedict Moore
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alexander D Miras
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alexander N Comninos
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Tricia Tan
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Steve Franks
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Waljit S Dhillo
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ali Abbara
- Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0NN, UK
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