What is the Origin of Chronic Anovulation?

The term combines chronic, from the Greek chronos meaning 'time', indicating persistence, and anovulation, a medical term composed of the prefix an- meaning 'without' and ovulation referring to the release of an egg. Its clinical use is rooted in reproductive endocrinology, where it describes a pathological state of reproductive axis dysfunction.

What is the Mechanism of Chronic Anovulation?

The underlying pathology often involves a breakdown in the pulsatile release of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus or altered pituitary responsiveness to GnRH. Common causes include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), functional hypothalamic amenorrhea due to stress or low energy availability, and hyperprolactinemia. The lack of a luteal phase and subsequent progesterone production due to anovulation can lead to unopposed estrogen stimulation of the endometrium, which carries its own health implications.

Chronic Anovulation

Meaning

Chronic anovulation is a persistent failure of the ovary to release an oocyte, resulting in the absence of ovulation over a prolonged period in a woman of reproductive age. This condition leads to menstrual cycle irregularities, such as oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, and is a common cause of female infertility. It signifies a significant disruption in the delicate hormonal communication within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis.