Hormonal Status of Young Women Living in the Kola North Under Conditions of Technogenic Pollution

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The impact of toxic environmental pollution on the reproductive system and the high prevalence of its developmental disorders among young women living in the Kola North necessitate investigation of the potential relationship between reproductive health of young women and technogenic exposure.

AIM: The work aimed to assess hormonal status as an indicator of reproductive health in young women residing in Apatity (Murmansk Region) under conditions of technogenic pollution.

METHODS: It was a single-center, cross-sectional study. The hormonal status of young women residing in Apatity was assessed in two stages: in November 2022 and March 2023. Concentrations of hormones involved in reproductive regulation were measured on days 3–5 of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase): luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, anti-Müllerian hormone, estradiol, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone; and on days 19–21 (luteal phase): progesterone, prolactin, cortisol, sex hormone-binding globulin, and the free androgen index. Hormone concentrations were determined in plasma samples using enzyme immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed, and correlation coefficients and intergroup differences were considered significant at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The study included 50 women aged 16–22 years. More than 30% demonstrated a specific hormonal phenotype characterized by deviations of reproductive health indicators from physiological norms. This phenotype reflected hormonal imbalance with features of polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperandrogenism, potentially associated with prolonged exposure to xenobiotics and leading to premature depletion of ovarian reserve.

CONCLUSION: A specific hormonal phenotype with features of endocrine pathological condition associated with markers of polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperandrogenism indicates a risk of infertility. We suggest that one possible cause of hormonal imbalance in women living in Apatity is technogenic environmental exposure, which may result in premature depletion of ovarian reserve.

About the authors

Natalia K. Belisheva

Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: natalybelisheva@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5504-2983
SPIN-code: 8833-5720

Dr. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, Apatity

Alla A. Martynova

Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: a.martynova@ksc.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0701-8698
SPIN-code: 7211-3236

Cand. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, Apatity

Elina I. Grigorieva

Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: elinamart@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3580-1126
SPIN-code: 1233-4923
Russian Federation, Apatity

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2. Fig. 1. Distribution of values for: a, anti-Müllerian hormone concentration, ng/mL; b, 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentration, pmol/L; c, progesterone concentration, pmol/L; d, free androgen index. The x-axis represents the corresponding values, and the y-axis represents the number of observations or frequency of occurrence of these values. AMH, anti-Müllerian hormone.

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