Evidence for the involvement of beta-endorphin in the human menstrual cycle

Keith W. Vrbicky; John S. Baumstark; Ibert C. Wells; Thomas W. Hilgers; Warren T. Kable; Christopher J. Elias

doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46697-5

Reproductive Endocrinology Neuroendocrinology

Evidence for the involvement of beta-endorphin in the human menstrual cycle

Vrbicky KW, Baumstark JS, Wells IC, Hilgers TW, Kable WT, Elias CJ

Published December 1982 Fertility and Sterility, 38(6), 701-704

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46697-5 PMID 6292005

RRM Academy Synopsis

Serum beta-endorphin peaks before ovulation in most normal cycles

Blood beta-endorphin peaked before ovulation in 21 out of 26 normal menstrual cycles, a 1982 study of 15 women found. They charted their cycles and gave daily blood samples. In those 21 cycles, levels then fell after ovulation. Across all cycles combined, the peak came 2 days before the luteinizing hormone surge.

Study at a glance, cohort study of 15 women: Beta-endorphin peaked before ovulation in 21 of 26 cycles. Source: Vrbicky KW et al., 1982, PMID 6292005.

Key Findings

In 21 of 26 cycles from 15 women, beta-endorphin showed a preovulatory peak and a postovulatory trough.
Two cycles showed a postovulatory peak, and 3 cycles showed a postovulatory peak with sustained elevation.
The composite of all 26 cycles showed a statistically significant preovulatory peak 2 days before the luteinizing hormone surge and a postovulatory trough 5 days later.
Every woman who contributed two or three cycles had at least one cycle with a preovulatory peak.

Interpretation

This cohort study followed 15 women aged 20 to 38 through 26 ovulatory cycles. Researchers measured beta-endorphin, luteinizing hormone, progesterone and estradiol daily from the follicular phase through several days after the peak mucus day. The authors note that their reading of a link to the luteinizing hormone surge is speculative, and they suggest the pattern may play a role in gonadotropin release. The findings support larger studies of beta-endorphin's role across the menstrual cycle.

RRM Context

Each woman charted her mucus, temperature and symptoms while following the ovulation method of natural family planning. The peak mucus day set the end of her daily sampling window. Charting timed the sampling around each woman's own peak mucus day. A Creighton University School of Medicine team ran the work in 1982.

Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.

Abstract

The possibility that beta-endorphin, an endogenous opiate, is involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle was examined. Daily serum beta-endorphin levels, in conjunction with luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and 17 beta-estradiol were measured during 26 hormonally normal menstrual cycles. Twenty-one cycles showed a preovulatory peak and postovulatory trough of beta-endorphin, 2 cycles had a postovulatory peak, and 3 had a postovulatory peak with sustained elevation. The raw data were standardized by conversion to "Z-scores," and the composite values were computed for each of the three classes described above. Significance within these three classes was assessed using a one-way analysis of variance with an F-ratio at 95% confidence limits. The composite plot of the 26 cycles showed a statistically significant preovulatory peak occurring 2 days prior to the luteinizing hormone surge and a postovulatory trough of beta-endorphin 5 days later. These results suggest that beta-endorphins play a significant role in the neurochemical mechanisms of gonadotropin release.

Topics

Reproductive Endocrinology › Neuroendocrinology › Opioid Peptides · Menstrual Cycle › Cycle Physiology › Hormonal Regulation

Keith W. Vrbicky, John S. Baumstark, Ibert C. Wells, Thomas W. Hilgers, Warren T. Kable, Christopher J. Elias

K Vrbicky, Jack Baumstark, J Baumstark, I Wells, Tom Hilgers, T Hilgers, W Kable, Chris Elias, C Elias

PMID 6292005 6292005 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46697-5 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46697-5 Vrbicky et al. 1982, Vrbicky 1982

Keywords

Adult, Endorphins/blood, Female, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone/metabolism, Menstruation, beta-Endorphin, Endorphins, beta-Endorphin, Luteinizing Hormone

Evidence for the involvement of beta-endorphin in the human menstrual cycle

Serum beta-endorphin peaks before ovulation in most normal cycles

Key Findings

Interpretation

RRM Context

Abstract

Topics

By this author

Related research

Keywords