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Sex Steroid Hormones and Reproductive Disorders

Impact on Women’s Health

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Abstract

The role of sex steroid hormones in reproductive function in women is well established. However, in the last two decades it has been shown that receptors for estrogens, progesterone and androgens are expressed in non reproductive tissue /organs (bone, brain, cardiovascular system) playing a role in their function. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate the impact of sex steroid hormones in the pathophysiology of some diseases (osteoporosis, Alzheimer, atherosclerosis). In particular, women with primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and climacteric syndrome may have more health problems and therefore an hormonal treatment may be crucial for these women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Bart C. J. M. Fauser MD, PhD, Angelique J. Goverde MD, PhD & Felice Petraglia MD

  2. Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Joop S. E. Laven MD, PhD

  3. 1th Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Basil C. Tarlatzis MD, PhD

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Washington University SOM, St. Louis, MI, USA

    Kelle H. Moley MD & Felice Petraglia MD

  5. University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Biology, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland

    Hilary O. D. Critchley MD

  6. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Robert N. Taylor MD, PhD & Sarah L. Berga MD

  7. Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Paul G. Mermelstein PhD

  8. Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels, Belgium

    Paul Devroey MD, PhD

  9. S.I.S.Me.R., Reproductive Medicine Unit, Bologna, Italy

    Luca Gianaroli MD

  10. Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Fertility Center, Leuven, Belgium

    Thomas D’Hooghe MD, PhD

  11. Department of Ob/Gyn “L.Mangiagalli” University of Milan, School of Medicine, Milan, Italy

    Paolo Vercellini MD

  12. World Endometriosis Research Foundation, London, UK

    Lone Hummelshoj

  13. NorthShore University HealthSystem, Glenview, IL, USA

    Susan Rubin MD

  14. Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine. Policlinico “S.Maria alle Scotte”, Siena, Italy

    Vincenzo De Leo MD

  15. Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Policlinico “S.Maria alle Scotte”, Viale Bracci, Siena, 53100, Italy

    Felice Petraglia MD

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  1. Bart C. J. M. Fauser MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Felice Petraglia MD.

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Fauser, B.C.J.M., Laven, J.S.E., Tarlatzis, B.C. et al. Sex Steroid Hormones and Reproductive Disorders. Reprod. Sci. 18, 702–712 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719111405068

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