Genetic Epidemiology of Ovarian Aging

This is a cross-sectional study with a subgroup followed longitudinally over time. This study consists of four basic components:

• identification and recruitment of a population-based sample of 1,250 regularly cycling women of diverse ethnicities, ages 25-45;
• a baseline examination on days 2-4 of the menstrual cycle, including a blood draw, transvaginal ultrasound examination, body size measurements, and questionnaires, to establish cross-sectional relations between the AFC and the genetic and environmental exposures of interest (see Specific Aims);
• genetic analyses of X-chromosome and autosomal mutations, deletions, and polymorphisms, implicated in the control of ovarian function; and
• follow-up examination, 3 years after baseline, completed by approximately one-third of the cohort (n=450), to begin to describe longitudinal relations between AFC and the exposures of interest and to identify markers predictive of accelerated follicle loss.

Specific Aims:

• Characterize antral follicle count (AFC) as a marker of ovarian age by comparing it to other available biomarkers, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), FSH/Lutenizing Hormone (LH), and inhibin B, and determine effect modification of these relationships by age.
• Examine the relationship between antral follicle counts and the frequencies of specific genetic polymorphisms in the Deleted in AZoospermia-Like (DAZL) and interacting protein genes.
• Determine the associations between race/ethnicity, body fat, and active and passive smoking and AFC, independently of age; if main effects are observed between genetic polymorphisms and AFC (Specific Aim 2), explore the effect modification of those relationships by race/ethnicity, body fat and active and passive smoking.
• Determine the change in AFC over a three-year period and its relation to genetic and environmental characteristics, based on the approximately 450 women who complete a 3-year follow-up examination.

The primary goal of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between antral follicle count and common genetic polymorphisms and the effect of modification of environmental factors. To achieve this goal, our multidisciplinary team proposes to recruit a random sample of 1,250 regularly cycling, ethnically diverse women, ages 25-45, who belong to the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care (KPMC) Program in San Francisco.

This study will provide evidence to support ultrasound evaluation as a non-invasive marker of ovarian aging. This and the genetic testing may lead to an opportunity for prospective identification of patients at risk for early decline in ovarian function. The ability to accurately generate and share this type of information will allow women to become proactive in managing their fertility as well as to better understand their risks associated with reproductive aging. The recruitment of a large, population-based cohort will increase the generalizability of the data generated. The ethnic diversity of this population will allow multiple comparisons to identify true "risk factors" for early, and/or accelerated, ovarian aging and their correlation with ethnicity.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 25-45 years
• Self-identifying as one of five specified race/ethnicities - Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, African-American, or Hispanic (Mexican or Central American).
• Regular menstrual cycles (monthly bleeding with an interval of 25-35 days)
• Uterus and ovaries required.

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic medical illness such as heart, kidney, or liver disease or diabetes
• Endometriosis of ovary
• Prior surgical procedure for removal of ovarian cyst(s)
• Epilepsy
• Lupus
• Invasive cancer excluding squamous or basal cell skin cancers
• Prior treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Use of any oral/systemic estrogen or progestin containing medication within a 3-month period
• Use of any central nervous system active medications known to disrupt the menstrual cycle (e.g. clonidine, aldomet)
• Psychiatric history involving functionally debilitating disturbance such as psychosis or major mood disorder requiring hospitalization or change in occupational or social functioning.
• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• Unable to speak and read English, Cantonese, or Spanish
• Concurrent participation in a clinical drug trial.