Menstrual dysfunction of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.

This study group consisted of 10 female patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. The duration of their illness was from 10 months to 8 years. Nine of the 10 had been undergoing hemodialysis for more than 1 year. Their menstrual patterns have been investigated, specifically with regard to menstrual history, gonadotropin and progesterone levels, and basal body temperature. Nine of the 10 patients had had regular menses prior to their renal illnesses. All patients became amenorrheic during and after hemodialysis with the exception of one patient who became hypermenorrheic. The gonadotropin levels were as follows: the luteinizing hormones were high-normal and the follicle stimulating hormones were low, almost to a hypogonadotropic range; progesterone level coupled with the basal body temperature showed no evidence of ovulatory cycles, except in one case.