Amount, Distribution and Dysfunction of Body Fat as Determinants of Female Gonadal Dysfunction From Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates how abnormalities in body fat amount, distribution, and function relate to female gonadal dysfunctions, including hypothalamic amenorrhea and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study aims to better understand how fat tissue communicates with the female reproductive system and to identify new biomarkers that could help diagnose and treat these conditions. Participants include women with different types of PCOS, exercise-related amenorrhea, and healthy controls. Women in five groups will be studied, including those with exercise-associated hypothalamic amenorrhea, hyperandrogenic and non-hyperandrogenic PCOS (both lean and with weight excess), women who exercise but have normal ovulation, and healthy women with no regular exercise. Researchers will collect samples and data from fat tissue, muscle, blood, and microbiome to analyze proteins, gene expression, hormones, body composition, cardiovascular health, and inflammatory markers. Participants will undergo detailed physical exams, body composition scans, blood tests, glucose tolerance tests, ultrasound imaging, blood pressure monitoring, biopsies, and microbiome sampling. Researchers will measure adipokine and myokine signals over up to five years and assess their associations with reproductive hormones and cardiovascular risk factors. The study includes comprehensive monitoring of metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the microbiome to explore their links to reproductive health.

Body Fat as Determinant of Female Gonadal Dysfunction