The Cycle Disturbances, OLigomenorrhea and Amenorrhea (COLA) Study & Biobank (COLA)

Through the COLA Study and Biobank the investigators hope to enable further identification of phenotype, endocrine, ethnic, and metabolic characteristics associated with menstrual cycle disturbances; and: the identification of genetic or other etiologic factors associated with cycle disturbances.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Anovulation

Detailed Description

Population Women with cycle disturbances are referred to the outpatient clinic specialized in cycle disturbances by 1st or 2nd line care providers for further diagnostic procedures.

Inclusion criteria WHO I Hypogonadotropic hypoestrogenic status (previously: "hypothalamic amenorrhea")

1. Low to normal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations
2. Low serum estradiol concentrations

WHO II

1. Amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea (mean cycle >35 days during the last 6 months)
2. Normal serum FSH concentrations (<12 IU/L)
3. Absence of other causes for the cycle disturbance, including: normal prolactin concentrations (<1.0 IU/L), normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations (0.2 - 4.2 milli-International unit /L), abnormalities on ultrasonography.

Within women with WHO II status, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is diagnosed when at least 2 of the following criteria are met:

1. Oligo-/anovulation
2. Clinical and/ or biochemical hyperandrogenism
3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasonography

WHO III

1. primary ovarian insufficiency (POI): defined as secondary amenorrhea before the age of 40 years and basal FSH > 40 IU/L.
2. incipient ovarian failure (IOF): defined as normal-ovulatory cycles with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L before the age of 40 years.
3. transient ovarian failure (TOF): defined as irregular cycles with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L before the age of 40 years.
4. Poor ovarian response: defined as less than 4 oocytes retrieved or cancellation in case of absent follicle growth after ovarian hyperstimulation with 300 IU gonadotropins.
5. Early menopause: menopause occurring between age 40 and 45 years.
6. Hypergonadotropic primary amenorrhea: primary amenorrhea with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L. Controls For analyses in which comparison with female controls are needed, data will be collected from existing population based cohorts, such as the EPIC cohort (Julius Center), or selected women included in the preconceptional cohort (PC, derived from the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology in the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), separate protocol in preparation).

Exclusion criteria

• Age: younger than 18 yrs.
• Regularly cycling women, with the exception of women with elevated basal FSH concentrations (IOF cases).

Study parameters In order to determine the phenotype characteristics of women with cycle disturbances, and to allow for the identification of genetic factors associated with cycle disturbances, the following parameters will be obtained.

• Age
• Ethnicity
• Social economic status and education
• Intoxications: smoking habits (previous and current), use of alcohol or drugs
• Medication and medication history
• Mental health (depression, stress and anxiety)
• Cycle regularity: age at menarche, use of (oral/intrauterine) contraceptives, mean duration of cycle, variation in cycle duration.
• Reproductive & obstetric history: parity, time to pregnancy and pregnancy outcome, subfertility (including treatments)
• Medical history (including previous gonadotoxic treatment)
• Family history of diabetes mellitus, early menopause, cycle irregularities, subfertility, cardiovascular disease, endocrinological disease, congenital disorders
• Basic physical examination: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, height, weight (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference
• Assessment of hirsutism, acne, Tanner sexual development stages.
• Ovarian reserve parameters: antral follicle count, ovarian volume, anti-müllerian hormone (AMH)
• luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH, prolactin, TSH, estradiol concentrations
• Androgen levels
• Lipid spectrum, glucose, insulin, High sensitivity C-reactive protein
• In POI specifically: bone density as assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), karyotype, fragile X premutation screening, presence of autoantibodies (against thyroid, ovaries, parietal cells and adrenal gland).

Participation in the COLA Biobank will consist of the additional withdrawal of two blood vials (one for DNA and one for serum sampling) obtained during the routine diagnostic procedure.

Relatives of the index patient:

When a familial tendency of the WHO status is suspected on the basis of family history of 1st and 2nd degree relatives, these relatives will be invited for participation of the study.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 5000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Utrecht, Netherlands, 3508GA
    • Recruiting
    • University Medical Center Utrecht
    • Contact: Bart CJ Fauser, professor; Phone Number: +31887557524; Email: b.c.fauser@umcutrecht.nl
    • Contact: Nadine MP Daan, MD; Phone Number: +31877551044; Email: n.m.p.daan@umcutrecht.nl
    • Principal Investigator: Bart CJ Fauser, prof MD PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 41 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Women with cycle disturbances are referred to the outpatient clinic specialized in cycle disturbances by 1st or 2nd line care providers for further diagnostic procedures.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

WHO I Hypogonadotropic hypoestrogenic status (previously: "hypothalamic amenorrhea")

1. Low to normal serum FSH concentrations
2. Low serum estradiol concentrations

WHO II

1. Amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea (mean cycle >35 days during the last 6 months)
2. Normal serum FSH concentrations (<12 IU/L)
3. Absence of other causes for the cycle disturbance, including: normal prolactin concentrations (<1.0 IU/L), normal TSH concentrations (0.2 - 4.2 milliunits/L), abnormalities on ultrasonography.

Within women with WHO II status, PCOS is diagnosed when at least 2 of the following criteria are met:

1. Oligo-/anovulation
2. Clinical and/ or biochemical hyperandrogenism
3. Polycystic ovaries on ultrasonography

WHO III

1. POI: defined as secondary amenorrhea before the age of 40 years and basal FSH > 40 IU/L.
2. IOF: defined as normal ovulatory cycles with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L before the age of 40 years.
3. TOF: defined as irregular cycles with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L before the age of 40 years.
4. Poor ovarian response: defined as less than 4 oocytes retrieved or cancellation in case of absent follicle growth after ovarian hyperstimulation with 300 IU gonadotropins.
5. Early menopause: menopause occurring between age 40 and 45 years.
6. Hypergonadotropic primary amenorrhea: primary amenorrhea with raised basal FSH > 12 IU/L.

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria

• Age: younger than 18 yrs.
• Regularly cycling women, with the exception of women with elevated basal FSH concentrations (IOF cases).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
WHO anovulation; WHO I, II. III anovulation. See inclusion criteria

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
hormonal classification	FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone,Testosterone, Androstenedione, Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), Cortisol, TSH	within 6 weeks
metabolic profile	total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, insulin, glucose	within 6 weeks
ovarian reserve	anti mullerian hormone, FSH and antral follicle count.	within 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
autoimmunity in WHO 3- POI patients	antithyroid peroxidase, antiadrenal, antiparietal and antiovarian antibodies	within 3 months
bone density in WHO 3- POI patients	a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan	within 3 months
genotype in WHO 3 POI patients	karotype, fragile X mental retardation 1 gene premutation carriership	within 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: UMC Utrecht
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bart CJ Fauser, professor, UMC Utrecht

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Christ JP, Gunning MN, Meun C, Eijkemans MJC, van Rijn BB, Bonsel GJ, Laven JSE, Fauser BCJM. Pre-Conception Characteristics Predict Obstetrical and Neonatal Outcomes in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Mar 1;104(3):809-818. doi: 10.1210/jc.2018-01787.
• Christ JP, Gunning MN, Palla G, Eijkemans MJC, Lambalk CB, Laven JSE, Fauser BCJM. Estrogen deprivation and cardiovascular disease risk in primary ovarian insufficiency. Fertil Steril. 2018 Apr;109(4):594-600.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.11.035. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Helpful Links

• study information

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2004
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 12, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): December 5, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 20, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Endocrine System Diseases; Ovarian Diseases; Adnexal Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Menstruation Disturbances; Amenorrhea; Anovulation; Oligomenorrhea
• Other Study ID Numbers: 12-645