Androgen Blockade and Progesterone Augmentation of Gonadotropin Secretion

oral micronized progesterone suspension, 100 mg oral dose at 0800 during each study admission

Placebo contains only inert ingredients and is not expected to exert any direct physiological effects.

Flutamide, 250 mg taken orally twice daily for four weeks before study admission.

Two 0.1 mg/day transdermal estradiol patches will be applied 3 days prior to each inpatient admission; on the morning of study admission, these two patches will be removed and immediately replaced with two new 0.1 mg/day patches.