Estrogen Sensitivity and Ovulatory Dysfunction in Obesity

Exclusion Criteria

• •Positive screen for Activated Protein C resistance
• •Any contraindications to exogenous estrogen, including previous thromboembolic events or stroke, history of an estrogen-dependent tumor, active liver disease, undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding, hypertriglyceridemia, smoking, hypertension
• •History of chronic disease affecting hormone production, metabolism or clearance (including diabetes mellitus) or abnormal renal or liver function at screening, such as elevated aspartate or alanine aminotransferases or elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or creatinine
• •Current use of thiazolidinediones or metformin (known to interact with reproductive hormones)
• •Use of hormones affecting hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis within three months of enrollment
• •Strenuous exercise (\>4 hours per week)
• •Pregnancy, breast-feeding or current active attempts to conceive