THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES OF MILITARY WOMEN IN ASPECTS OF STRESS-ASSOCIATED HORMONAL DISODERS

Abstract

According to our previous studies, military women in the conditions of the military environment are more receptive to war zone stress-factors then their male colleagues and are more inclined to the development of unconscious psychosomatic problems associated with impaired reproductive health. The aim. Evaluation of the functional state of the reproductive system according to hormonal studies on military women in the zone of armed conflict. Materials and methods. The study included 66 military women whose reproductive hormonal profile for their blood content has been evaluated for: estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, and cortisol. The evaluation was held directly during their stay in the military operation area. Results. Аccording to the results of research, statistically significant higher levels of progesterone and prolactin were determined in the military women (U = 17,0 р = 0,001) and (U = 44,0 р = 0,009) compared to levels for civilian women: 8,95 (6,70- 14,38) і 4,25 (3,15-5,20) nmol/l for progesterone and 12,10 (8,48- 17,23) - 7,75 (6,13-9,63) ng/ml for prolactin. The increased levels of progesterone in the first phase of the menstrual cycle were captured in military women in 70,0±20,6% of cases that might testify to the adrenal genesis of hyperprogesteroneemia and reiterate the stress-associated nature of hormonal disorders in this category of patients. Conclusion. The revealed hormonal changes play a significant role in the development of menstrual and reproductive function disorders for military women who are or have returned from the zone of armed conflict. This well-defined problem requires following deepened research.