The purpose of the study is to examine intrafollicular changes in aromatase and ovarian growth factors in reproductive aged women,African-American women compared to Caucasian controls, and Fragile X premutation carriers.
Hypotheses:
* Aromatase activity is up-regulated in preovulatory follicles with aging, accounting for the increased estradiol levels in the face of decreased inhibin secretion in reproductive aging.
* Increased estradiol in the face of normal inhibin A and inhibin B suggests up-regulation of aromatase in African-American women.
* Aromatase activity is down-regulated in preovulatory follicles in fragile X premutation carriers compared to age-matched controls and the activity is associated with FMR1 mRNA levels.
