Could Leptin be the next fertility medication?
Leptin is a hormone produced in adipose tissue (fat cells). It has been the subject of much study in recent years. Leptin was first discovered in 1994. It is primarily thought of as an appetite and weight regulation hormone. However, leptin also functions to signal the brain and other organs about dangerous states of very low energy availability. Leptin is secreted into the bloodstream in proportion to the amount of energy stored in fat. The leptin is detected by receptors in the brain where it signals how much energy is available. It thereby regulates several key physiological functions that depend on adequate energy balance, including reproduction, metabolism, and bone formation. We have known for some time that women who have very low body fat and/or those who exercise vigorously can stop ovulating. Once they stop ovulating, they no longer produce essential hormones like estrogen and their periods can also stop or become infrequent. This condition is called functional hypothalamic a
