Naltrexone in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and in the normal luteal phase

Fifteen young women with a diagnosis of secondary hypothalamic amenorrhea of at least 2 years duration were given either 50 mg naltrexone daily or placebo, following a randomized double-blind crossover scheme. Seven patients did not menstruate with either therapy. In the other eight, the following results were recorded (mean ± SD and range): a cycle length of 28.7 ± 7.6 (12-45) days for naltrexone compared with 30.8 ± 5.9 (16-43) days for placebo, a follicular phase length of 20.8 ± 5.4 (14-34) days for naltrexone and 23.2 ± 4.3 (19-32) days for placebo, and a luteal phase length of 9 ± 2.01 (6-12) days for naltrexone and 8.3 ± 1.6 (5-10) days for placebo. The number of ovulatory cycles was 18 of 24 (75%) with naltrexone and eight of 24 (33%) with placebo (P