Endometriosis and Fertility Resource Page

In the first study to explore the role of estrogen in working memory function in premenopausal women, researchers at McGill University have documented a significant decrease in working memory among women whose estrogen levels were suppressed by chemicals, not age.The prospective study, published online in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, monitored estrogen levels and working memory among 25 women between 25 and 40 years of age being treated for benign gynecological problems (fibroids, uterine polyps, endometriosis) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the McGill University Health Centre. In the course of their regular treatment, these women were given leuprolide acetate depot (Lupron), a drug that chemically suppresses ovarian function and estrogen levels, inducing a form of premature, temporary menopause. Twenty-five healthy women were also tested twice in order to control for the possibility that repetition would influence scores on the tests.

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