This study was performed to establish whether the ovarian hormone beta-estradiol has any influence on nasal physiology when manipulated during in vitro fertilization treatment.
Methods
Women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at the Assisted Conception Unit, Leicester Royal Infirmary, were recruited. Nasal peak inspiratory flow rate, acoustic rhinometry, anterior rhinomanometry, mucociliary clearance, olfactory thresholds, quality of life, and serum 17-beta-estradiol levels were measured at each visit. Subjects were studied at the beginning of their IVF treatment and then at one or two additional occasions while they received synthetic follicule-stimulating hormone with a final set of results taken at the end of their treatment.
Results
Results were analyzed using paired t-tests. There was no statistical difference between any of the data sets for any of the variables during the process of IVF treatment.
Conclusion
Increasing levels of beta-estradiol that occur in IVF treatment cause no significant effect on nasal physiology in contrast to the effects seen during pregnancy.
EllegardE., and KarlssonG.Nasal congestion during pregnancy.Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci24: 307–311, 1999.
3.
BendeM., and GredmarkT.Nasal stuffiness during pregnancy.Laryngoscope109: 1108–1110, 1999.
4.
MackenzieJ.The physiological and pathological relations between the nose and the sexual apparatus of man.Alienist Neurol19: 219–239, 1898
5.
HolmesT.H., GoodellH., WolfS.The Relation of Nasal to Sexual Function in the Nose: An Experimental Study of Reactions within the Nose in Human Subjects during Varying Life Experiences.Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas,1950. 89–100.
6.
PhilpottC.M., El-AlarmiM., and MurtyG.E.The effect of the steroid sex hormones on the nasal airway during the normal menstrual cycle.Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci29: 138–142, 2004.
7.
WolstenholmeC.R., PhilpottC.M., OlotoE.Does the use of combined oral contraceptive pills cause changes in nasal physiology in young women?Am J Rhinol20: 238–240, 2006.
8.
WolstenholmeC.R., WildD.C., and MurtyG.E.Assessment of the effects of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women on nasal physiology.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg133: 155, 2005.
9.
RuskinS.L.Rationale of estrogen therapy of primary atrophic rhinitis.Arch Otolaryngol36: 632–649, 1942.
10.
MolteniA., WarpheaR.L., Brizo-MolteniL.Estradiol receptor binding protein in head and neck neoplastic and normal tissue.Arch Surg116: 207–210, 1981.
11.
HamanoN., TeradaN., MaesakoK.Expression of histamine receptors in nasal epithelial cells and endothelial cells—The effects of sex hormones.Int Arch Allergy Immunol115: 220–227, 1998.
12.
MortimerH., WrightR., and CollipJ.The effect of the administration of oestrogenic hormones on the nasal mucosa of the monkey.Can Med Assoc J35: 503–512, 1936.
13.
LahitaR.G.The effects of sex hormones on the immune system in pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol28: 136–137, 1992.
14.
KrasnowJ.S., TollerudD.J., NausG.Endometrial Th2 cytokine expression throughout the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.Hum Reprod11: 1747–1754, 1996.
15.
BowserC., and RiedererA.Detection of progesterone receptors in connective tissue cells of the lower nasal turbinates in women.Laryngorhinootologie80: 182–186, 2001.
16.
EllegardE., OscarssonJ., BougoussaM.Serum levels of placental growth hormone is raised in pregnancy rhinitis.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg124: 439–443, 1998.
17.
ReynoldsS., and FosterF.Acetylcholine-equivalent content of the nasal mucosa in rabbits and cats, before and after administration of oestrogen.Am J Physiol131: 422–425, 1940.
18.
FairleyJ.W., DurhamL.H., and EllS.R.Correlation of subjective sensation of nasal patency with nasal inspiratory peak flow rate.Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci18: 19–22, 1993.
19.
HillbergO.Acoustic rhinometry: Evaluation of nasal cavity geometry by acoustic reflection.J Appl Physiol66: 295–303, 1989.
20.
JacksonA.C.Airway geometry by analysis of acoustic pulse response measurements.J Appl Physiol43: 523–536, 1977.
21.
MackeyI.S.Measurement of nasal airflow and resistance.J R Soc Med72: 852–855, 1979.
22.
EcclesR.Physiology of the nose. In Diseases of the Head and Neck, Nose and Throat.JonesA., PhillipsD., and HilgersF. (Eds.). London: Arnold, 1998. 675–676.
23.
DotyR., GregorT., and SettleR.Influence of intertribal interval and sniff bottle volume on phenyl ethyl alcohol odor detection thresholds.Chem Senses11: 259–264, 1986.
24.
JuniperE.Comparison of powder and aerosolized budesonide in perennial rhinitis: Validation of rhinitis quality of life questionnaire.Ann Allergy70: 225–230, 1993.
25.
EllegardE., and KarlssonG.Nasal congestion during the menstrual cycle.Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci19: 400–403, 1994.
26.
HaeggstromA., OstbergB., StjernaP.Nasal mucosal swelling and reactivity during a menstrual cycle.ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec62: 39–42, 2000.
27.
StubnerU.P., GruberD., BergerU.E.The influence of female sex hormones on nasal reactivity in seasonal allergic rhinitis.Allergy54: 865–871, 1999.
28.
DotyR.L., SnyderP.J., HugginsG.R., and LowryL.D.Endocrine, cardiovascular, and psychological correlated of olfactory sensitivity changes during the human menstrual cycle.J Comp Physiol Psychol95: 45–60, 1981.
29.
ToppozadaH., MichaelsL., ToppozadaM.The human nasal mucosa in the menstrual cycle. A histochemical and electron microscopic study.J Laryngol Otol95: 1237–1247, 1981.
30.
WolstenholmeC.R., WildD.C., and MurtyG.E.The presence of female hormone receptors in the nasal mucosa.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg133: 154–155, 2005.
GronowskiA.M.Human pregnancy: An overview. In Handbook of Clinical Laboratory Testing during Pregnancy.GronowskiA.M. (Ed.). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2004.
33.
MischellD.R.Infertility, Contraception and Reproductive Endocrinology.LoboR.A., and PaulsonR.J. (Eds.). Portland, OR: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991.
34.
BuiM.N., AraiA.E., WaclwiwM.A.Effect of hormone replacement therapy on carotid arterial compliance in healthy post menopausal women.Am J Cardiol90: 7F–10F, 2002.
