Normalizing the Menstrual Cycle

Vitex normalizes short and long menstrual cycles by 3 to 10 days; lengthens luteal phase by 2.5 days

Both short and long cycles (< 27 days or > 32 days pretreatment) were normalized in the vitex group. Among women starting with short cycles (<27 days), mean cycle length increased significantly in the vitex group (from 24.2 to 27.6 days). Among women with longer cycles (>32 days), cycles tended to shorten in the vitex group (from 41.6 to 31.7). The average number of days in cycle with basal temperatures over 98F during luteal phase also increased significantly in the vitex group (5.5 to 8.1 days). No significant side-effects were noted.

http://www.fertilityblend.com/fbclinicalstudy2006.pdf

Flaxseed increases the length of the luteal phase by 1.2 days

We evaluated the effect of the ingestion of flaxseed powder on the menstrual cycle in normally cycling women, using a balanced randomized cross-over design. Three anovulatory cycles occurred during the 36 control cycles, compared to none during the 36 flax seed cycles. Compared to the ovulatory control cycles, the ovulatory flax cycles were consistently associated with longer luteal phase lengths (12.6 vs. 11.4).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8077314

D-chiro-inositol resumes ovulation in 86% of PCOS women

Nineteen of the 22 women who received d-chiro-inositol (1200 mg/day for 6 to 8 weeks) ovulated, as compared with 6 of the 22 women in the placebo group.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199904293401703

D-chiro-inositol helps resume ovulation

Six of the 10 women (60%) in the D-chiro- inositol group (600 mg/day for 6 to 8 weeks) ovulated in comparison with 2 of the 10 women (20%) in the placebo group.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15251831

Myo-inositol restores ovulation

The ovulation frequency assessed by the ratio of luteal phase weeks to observation weeks was significantly higher in the treated group (25%) (4 g myo-inositol plus 400 mcg folic acid) compared with the placebo (15%), and the time to first ovulation was significantly shorter [24.5 d compared with 40.5 d]. The number of patients failing to ovulate during the placebo-treatment period was higher in the placebo group, and the majority of ovulations were characterized by normal progesterone concentrations in both groups.

http://www.europeanreview.org/pdf/458.pdf

N-acetyl cysteine boosts ovulation rate from 1% to 49% in PCOS women

The patients were assigned randomly to receive either N-acetyl cysteine 1.2 g/d (group I) or placebo (group II) with clomiphene citrate 100 mg/d for 5 days starting at day 3 of the cycle. RESULTS: Combination of clomiphene citrate and N-acetyl cysteine significantly increased both ovulation rate and pregnancy rate in women with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS (49.3% vs. 1.3% and 21.3% vs. 0%, respectively).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15705376

Fasting lengthened the follicular phase by 1.2 days in lean women

A 72-h fast in normal weight women during the follicular phase results in transient alterations in neuroendocrine function, but follicle development and follicular phase length remain unaltered. In this study we evaluated neuroendocrine and ovulatory function in lean women (body fat, < or = 20%) undergoing a similar 72-h fast during the midfollicular phase. In the five women studied in fed and fasted cycles, one had interrupted lead follicle development with anovulation, and four had significant lengthening of the follicular phase compared to those during their fed cycles (14.4 vs. 13.2 days). The clinical observations made in this small sample of lean women showing more profound changes in neuroendocrine function, anovulation, and lengthened follicular phase after fasting suggest that lean women may be more vulnerable to fasting stress than normal weight women.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/83/1/76

Exposure to bright light can shorten menstrual cycle and promote follicular growth

Studies have shown a shortening of the menstrual cycle following light exposure in women with abnormally long menstrual cycles or with winter depression, suggesting that artificial light can influence reproductive hormones and ovulation. The study was designed to investigate this possibility. During one experimental cycle, bright light was administered at home for 1 wk with a light box emitting white light at 4,300 lux at 41 cm for 45 min shortly after awakening. During the other experimental cycle, dim light was <100 lux at 41 cm with a one-tube fluorescent source. RESULTS: Concentrations of PRL, LH, and FSH were significantly increased with bright versus dim light exposure, as was follicle size. The number of ovulatory cycles increased after exposure to bright compared to dim light (12 versus 6 cycles). CONCLUSIONS: Morning exposure to bright light in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle stimulates the secretion of hypophyseal reproductive hormones, promotes ovary follicle growth, and increases ovulation rates in women with slightly lengthened menstrual cycles. This might be a promising method to overcome infertility.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17290302

High FSH is associated with short follicular phase; no correlation to LH or estrogen

There was a mild negative correlation between FSH and follicular-phase length across the whole cohort, but after analysis as a separate group, the correlation was present only in those with follicular phase lasting </=16 days. There was no correlation between LH or estradiol levels and the follicular-phase length in either group.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17482608

Obesity leads to disrupted menstrual cycles

This study shows that more than 20% of women with simple obesity have oligomenorrhea, and suggests that central fat accumulation seems to have a possible direct role in this menstrual alteration, independently of hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19411803

Older women have shorter follicular phases and higher follicular phase FSH and estrogen

The number of cycle days until the dominant ovarian follicle reached a mean diameter of 15 mm was lower (11.6 vs. 15.6 days), and the early follicular phase mean FSH and mean estradiol levels were higher (9.3 vs. 6.6 mIU/mL and 305 vs. 160 pmol/L) in the older group (aged 40-45 yr) compared to the younger group (age 20-25 yr).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8626862

Older women have shorter follicular phases and longer menstrual cycles

Analysis of cycle charts revealed a negative relationship between age and the length of the follicular phase (percentage of cycle days at maximal tumescence). There also were positive relationships between age and the length of the estrous cycle, the percentage of cycle days at complete detumescence (i.e. amenorrhea), and the frequency of irregular cycles.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18523375

Polyunsaturated fat shortens menstrual cycle; dietary fiber may lengthen it

Intake of nutrients and foods including fats, dietary fiber, and soy products was estimated through the use of a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean cycle length was determined for each women based on a prospective record of menstruation. Polyunsaturated fat intake was significantly inversely associated with cycle length; the means of cycle length were 33.2 and 31.0 days for the lowest and the highest quintiles of intake, respectively, after controlling for covariates. The odds ratio of a long cycle (> 35 days) for the highest vs. lowest quintile of dietary fiber intake was 2.12, although the trend was not statistically significant. The data suggest that polyunsaturated fat and dietary fiber intake are associated with the parameters of menstrual cycle length, but further studies are required to better characterize these associations.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16898860

Alcohol and aging shorten follicular phase, physical activity and being Asian lengthen it

Women aged 35 years or older were less likely than younger women to have long cycles (>35 days) (adjusted odds ratio = 0.53). Compared with Caucasian women, Asian women were significantly more likely to have long cycles (odds ratio = 2.60) and follicular phases longer than 23 days (odds ratio = 2.09). Women who consumed one or more alcoholic drinks per week were significantly less likely to have long cycles (odds ratio = 0.38) or long follicular phases (odds ratio = 0.39). Physical activity of 4 hours or more per week compared with no activity was significantly negatively associated with short follicular phases (<13 days) (odds ratio = 0.36). Increasing physical activity was also moderately positively associated with long cycles and long follicular phases. Smoking status and BMI were not significantly associated.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/2/131.full

Higher estrogen causes short follicular phase, lower progesterone causes short luteal phase

Cycles with a short follicular phase showed elevations of 10-13% in both baseline (days 1-5) and average follicular-phase estrogen metabolite levels, as well as some elevations in progesterone metabolites. Progesterone metabolite levels were directly related to the length of the luteal phase.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12410009

Ovulation occurs 1 day after LH rise, EWCM, mittelschmertz and low temp; on day 1 of temp rise

Prediction of ovulation was carried out by B-ultrasonography, basal body temperature graph, cervical mucus and appearance of mittelschmerz in 45 normally menstruation women for a total of 72 cycles. LH peak values were also determined in 20 cases (20 cycles). The results were as follows: 1. The relationship between each index and ovulation: (2) The change of cervical mucus: the opening of external os and the secretion of mucus with ferning became most typical one day before the ovulation. (3) Basal body temperature graph: in a majority of cycles, ovulation occurred at the first day of the initial rise in temperature. (4) Mittelschmerz: occurred in 35% of cycles and appeared within 24 hours before ovulation. (5) LH peak value: ovulation occurred 24 to 48 hours after the first significant rise of LH, and within 24 hours after LH peak value. 2. The relation-ship between indices: in the majority of cases, when we employ the ultrasound image of follicular rupture as a signs of ovulation, LH peak value, follicle of biggest diameter, maximum volume of cervical mucus, the lowest point of basal body temperature and mittelschmerz appear on the same day, namely, one day before ovulation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2194763

Luteal phase defect associated with short follicular phase, high early cycle LH

The length of follicular phase in luteal phase defect was significantly shorter than that of women with normal cycles. There were significant differences in LH pulsatile secretions and amplitudes in luteal phase defect patients when compared with those of women with normal cycles. Basal estrogen, prolactin, and preovulatory estrogen concentrations were not different between the two groups whereas the peak of progesterone secretions in luteal phase was significantly decreased in luteal phase defect. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that luteal phase defect may result from the altered LH pulse frequency in early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Whether this increased LH pulse frequency results from an intrinsic disease of the pulse oscillator or to some event in the preceding cycle remains unknown. It is tempting to speculate that an increased LH pulsatile secretion in the early follicular phase of menstrual cycles in patients with luteal phase defect may down-regulate the LH secretion at midcycle, thereby lowering the LH surge, which in turn reduces the progesterone secretion in luteal phase.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8224264

Subclinical hypothyroidim causes luteal phase defect; treatment increases progesterone

Approximately 37.8% of patients with mild or subclinical hypothyroidism were found to have slightly elevated serum prolactin values. Cycle analysis supplied evidence of luteal phase deficiency in 8 and anovulation in 3 cases. Another group of 11 patients with hypothyroidism involved oligo-/amenorrhoea, hirsutism and hyperandrogenaemia. After treatment with l-thyroxine daily for at least 4 to 6 weeks, elevated prolactin values significantly decreased in 9 out of 12 patients and testosterone levels slightly decreased in 5 out of 8 patients. An improvement of the cyclical ovarian function could be observed by the significant increase of the average progesterone concentration in the luteal phase. During therapy with l-thyroxine, 4 pregnancies occurred. From these results we conclude, that mild hypothyroidism may cause ovarian insufficiency.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2511057

Iron reduces risk of ovulatory infertility by 40%

We conducted a prospective cohort study among 18,555 married, premenopausal women without a history of infertility who attempted a pregnancy or became pregnant between 1991 and 1999 (mean baseline age 32.6). RESULTS: Women who consumed iron supplements had a significantly lower risk of ovulatory infertility than women who did not use iron supplements (relative risk 0.60), after adjusting for potential confounders. Total nonheme iron intake, primarily consumed as multivitamins and iron supplements, was inversely associated with the risk of infertility. Heme iron intake was unrelated to ovulatory infertility in multivariable adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: Consumption of iron supplements and nonheme iron from other sources may decrease the risk of ovulatory infertility.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17077236

High consumption of animal protein increases risk of ovulatory infertility by 39%

A total of 18,555 married women without a history of infertility were followed up as they attempted a pregnancy or became pregnant during an 8 year period. Dietary assessments were related to the incidence of ovulatory infertility. RESULTS: The multivariate-adjusted relative risk of ovulatory infertility comparing the highest to the lowest quintile of animal protein intake was 1.39. Furthermore, consuming 5% of total energy intake as vegetable protein rather than as animal protein was associated with a more than 50% lower risk of ovulatory infertility. CONCLUSION: Replacing animal sources of protein with vegetable sources of protein may reduce ovulatory infertility risk.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18226626