Evaluation of Kisspeptin-54 as a Test to Improve the Diagnosis and Treatment of Women Who Have Irregular Periods
Lead Researcher : Dr Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya
Supported by the Metabolic & Endocrine Theme
One out of every 5 young women has irregular periods because of conditions called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA), which can cause reduced fertility. It is difficult for doctors to know whether irregular periods are caused by PCOS or HA because similar problems occur in both conditions. This means that many women are given the wrong diagnosis and not given the right treatment. Therefore, it is important for researchers to find better ways of diagnosing these conditions.
Kisspeptin-54 (a natural messenger or hormone) makes the pituitary gland release Luteinising Hormone, which makes the ovaries produce oestrogen. We tested the response to Kisspeptin-54 in two women with PCOS, four women with HA and four women with normal periods (all aged 18-35 years). Five hours after receiving a Kisspeptin-54 injection, Luteinising Hormone levels in the blood of women with HA were much higher than in women with PCOS and women with normal periods. I now want to find out if a Kisspeptin-54 injection can be used as a test to differentiate between PCOS and HA by measuring Luteinising Hormone in the blood of a larger number of women with PCOS, HA and women with normal periods for several hours after a Kisspeptin-54 injection.
We discussed my research with five people with hormone problems and five people with normal periods. They all said that this research is important. After I complete this research, I will share my results with women with PCOS and HA, doctors and other researchers. I will apply for more money so that I can perform a large study to confirm the results of my research. This may lead to a new and better test for PCOS and HA, so that women can get the right diagnosis and the right treatment.