Impact of emotional stress on reproductive function parameters in female university students

Aim. To study the features of tropic and peripheral hormones in female university under stress considering the prevailing tone of autonomic nervous system. Materials and methods. We assessed the reproductive function in 49 girls with different types of autonomic regulation under stress. The assessment was based on studying the dynamics of levels of gonadotropins and sex hormones. The type of autonomic regulation was evaluated using rhythmocardiogarphy according to results of mathematical analysis of heart rate variability. Hormone levels were determined by enzyme multiplied immunoassay using Biorad iMark biochemical analyzer (USA) and Alkor-bio testing system (Russia) under normal conditions and under emotional stress. Results. In general group under stress the levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin were lower the same values under normal conditions. In girls with dominating sympathetic nervous system the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol were usually high - 6.58 ± 0.63 and 92.17 ± 15.09, respectively. When parasympathetic tone dominated the tendency was towards low values of most of hormones under study and significantly low levels of estradiol; besides, under emotional stress the suppression of luteal phase was observed. Conclusion. Under emotional stress female students in their reproductive period have the altered activity of the axis hypothalamus - pituitary gland - gonads. Changes in sex gonadotropins under emotional stress may vary depending on the initial dominating tone of autonomic nervous system.