Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The Quantum Menstrual Health Monitoring Study will measure four key reproductive hormones in the urine (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH; estrone-3-glucuronide, E<sub>1</sub>3G; luteinizing hormone, LH; and pregnanediol glucuronide, PDG) to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/9/1513 |
| _version_ | 1827725406810144768 |
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| author | Thomas Bouchard Paul Yong Patricia Doyle-Baker |
| author_facet | Thomas Bouchard Paul Yong Patricia Doyle-Baker |
| author_sort | Thomas Bouchard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: The Quantum Menstrual Health Monitoring Study will measure four key reproductive hormones in the urine (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH; estrone-3-glucuronide, E<sub>1</sub>3G; luteinizing hormone, LH; and pregnanediol glucuronide, PDG) to characterize patterns that predict and confirm ovulation, referenced to serum hormones and the gold standard of the ultrasound day of ovulation in participants with regular cycles. These normal cycles will provide a reference for comparison to irregular cycles in subjects with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and athletes. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Participants will track their menstrual cycles for 3 months and be provided with an at-home urine hormone monitor (Mira monitor) to predict ovulation. The day of ovulation will be confirmed with serial ultrasounds completed in a community clinic. Urine results will be compared to serum hormone values. Other markers of menstrual health, such as bleeding patterns and temperature changes, will be determined using a customized app. Three groups will be recruited. Group 1 will include those with consistent regular cycle lengths (between 24–38 days), and will be compared to two groups with irregular cycle lengths (with increased cycle length variability and longer cycles). Group 2 will include those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with irregular cycles and Group 3 will include individuals participating in high levels of exercise with irregular cycles. <i>Hypothesis</i>: The Mira monitor quantitative urine hormone pattern will accurately correlate with serum hormonal levels and will predict (with LH) and confirm (with PDG) the ultrasound day of ovulation in those with regular cycles as well as those with irregular cycles. <i>Rationale</i>: Once the ultrasound validation is complete, tools like the Mira monitor with a customized app may become a new standard for at-home and remote clinical monitoring of the menstrual cycle without having to use labor-intensive follicular-tracking ultrasound or follow serum hormone changes. <i>Conclusions</i>: Precision monitoring of the menstrual cycle is expected to impact individuals who want to increase their menstrual health literacy and guide decisions about fertility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:28:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-488ac38793314716b75101753af559d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:28:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-488ac38793314716b75101753af559d32023-11-19T11:50:57ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442023-08-01599151310.3390/medicina59091513Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle MonitoringThomas Bouchard0Paul Yong1Patricia Doyle-Baker2Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K8, CanadaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K8, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The Quantum Menstrual Health Monitoring Study will measure four key reproductive hormones in the urine (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH; estrone-3-glucuronide, E<sub>1</sub>3G; luteinizing hormone, LH; and pregnanediol glucuronide, PDG) to characterize patterns that predict and confirm ovulation, referenced to serum hormones and the gold standard of the ultrasound day of ovulation in participants with regular cycles. These normal cycles will provide a reference for comparison to irregular cycles in subjects with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and athletes. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Participants will track their menstrual cycles for 3 months and be provided with an at-home urine hormone monitor (Mira monitor) to predict ovulation. The day of ovulation will be confirmed with serial ultrasounds completed in a community clinic. Urine results will be compared to serum hormone values. Other markers of menstrual health, such as bleeding patterns and temperature changes, will be determined using a customized app. Three groups will be recruited. Group 1 will include those with consistent regular cycle lengths (between 24–38 days), and will be compared to two groups with irregular cycle lengths (with increased cycle length variability and longer cycles). Group 2 will include those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with irregular cycles and Group 3 will include individuals participating in high levels of exercise with irregular cycles. <i>Hypothesis</i>: The Mira monitor quantitative urine hormone pattern will accurately correlate with serum hormonal levels and will predict (with LH) and confirm (with PDG) the ultrasound day of ovulation in those with regular cycles as well as those with irregular cycles. <i>Rationale</i>: Once the ultrasound validation is complete, tools like the Mira monitor with a customized app may become a new standard for at-home and remote clinical monitoring of the menstrual cycle without having to use labor-intensive follicular-tracking ultrasound or follow serum hormone changes. <i>Conclusions</i>: Precision monitoring of the menstrual cycle is expected to impact individuals who want to increase their menstrual health literacy and guide decisions about fertility.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/9/1513ovulationmenstrual cyclefollicular-tracking ultrasoundpolycystic ovarian syndromeoligomenorrheafollicle-stimulating hormone |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Bouchard Paul Yong Patricia Doyle-Baker Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring Medicina ovulation menstrual cycle follicular-tracking ultrasound polycystic ovarian syndrome oligomenorrhea follicle-stimulating hormone |
| title | Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring |
| title_full | Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring |
| title_fullStr | Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring |
| title_short | Establishing a Gold Standard for Quantitative Menstrual Cycle Monitoring |
| title_sort | establishing a gold standard for quantitative menstrual cycle monitoring |
| topic | ovulation menstrual cycle follicular-tracking ultrasound polycystic ovarian syndrome oligomenorrhea follicle-stimulating hormone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/59/9/1513 |
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