ABSTRACT
Background: Assessment of the concentrations of reproductive hormones during postmenopause has been suggested as a confirmatory test for menopause due to irregularities in rise and fall of sex hormones in menopausal transition. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of estrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in post-menopausal women in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. In addition we tried to establish if relationships exist between the pituitary hormones and the ovarian (sex) hormones and between the reproductive hormones and age and body mass index (BMI). Method: The study population comprised forty post-menopausal women of mean age 59.6 years and forty young female adult controls of mean age 27.8 years. Blood samples were collected into heparin container and the serum used for the analysis of estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH using ELISA method. Result: Post-menopausal women had significantly (P<0.001) higher mean serum FSH and LH concentrations compared to their controls. In contrast, the control group had significantly (P<0.001) higher progesterone and estradiol levels compared to the postmenopausal women. There was inverse correlation (P<0.01) between estradiol and FSH levels, but no significant correlations were observed between FSH and Progestrone; LH and Progestrone; and LH and Estradiol respectively. In addition, after adjusting for BMI, the concentrations of LH was significantly associated with age (P<0.01) but FSH, estradiol and progesterone levels were not. Furthermore, estradiol and FSH levels were significantly associated (P<0.001 and P<0.05) with BMI after controlling for age. Conclusion: The present findings underscore the importance of understanding the reproductive hormonal profile of post-menopausal women and the need to consider age and body mass when studying hormonal changes of menopausal women. These data may help clinicians make optimal therapeutic decisions for hormone replacement therapy and life-style changes that may reduce the risk of some of the conditions associated with menopause.