Relationship between climacteric symptoms and serum serotonin levels in postmenopausal women

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible relationship between climacteric symptoms and serum serotonin concentrations in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods We studied 39 women who attended the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology in Poznan because of climacteric complaints. We evaluated climacteric symptom severity with the use of the Kupperman scale and we measured 17beta-estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and serotonin serum concentrations by radioimmunoassay. Results The mean serum serotonin concentration in the studied women was 48.9 ng/ml (standard deviation, SD +/- 24.1 ng/ml). The mean serum serotonin concentration in the group of patients with mild climacteric symptoms was 97.7 ng/ml (SD +/- 16.6 ng/ml), and in the group of patients with moderate and severe climacteric symptoms was 36.2 ng/ml (SD +/- 24.1 ng/ml). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05). There was no difference in serum serotonin concentrations between patients with or without specific symptoms (Mann-Whitney test, P > 0.05). Conclusions Serum serotonin concentrations in postmenopausal women are related to the severity of climacteric symptoms.