The Relation of Serum Inhibin B, Estradiol and FSH Levels to Menometrorrhagia in Perimenopausal Women

Objective: To determine whether serum estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B levels are associated with menometrorrhagia in perimenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Forty-two perimenopausal women with menometrorrhagia and 42 age-matched regular-cycling women participated in this prospective study. Blood samples to measure serum estradiol, FSH, and inhibin B were collected in perimenopausal women with menometrorrhagia when they had vaginal bleeding. In women with regular cycles, blood samples were collected between days 3 and 8 of the cycle. The t test was used for statistical comparisons between the 2 groups. Results: Mean inhibin B levels were lower in patients in the study group compared with patients in the control group (16.8 pg/ml vs 22.4 pg/ml), but this difference was not statistically significant. Mean FSH values were not significantly different between patients in the study and control groups (17.4 IU/L vs 11.6 IU/L). However, mean estradiol values were significantly higher in patients in the study group than they were in the control group (127.1 pg/ml vs 39.3 pg/ml). Discussion: High serum estradiol levels are associated with menometrorrhagia in perimenopausal women. However, a significant relation was not demonstrated between menometrorrhagia in perimenopausal women and levels of FSH and inhibin B.