Fertile Insights: Exploring the Interplay Between Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome and Female Infertility

Abstract

Objective: To assess the role of polycystic ovarian syndrome and hormonal abnormalities in female infertility.

Methodology: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi. A Total of 423 females aged between 18-45 were enrolled between July 2023 to December 2023 who is not getting pregnant for some years. These patients came to the outpatient department (OPD) in the gynecology department with the symptoms of acne, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, anxiety, and weight gain. A sample of patients was drawn from the medial cubital vein and kept in a gel tube. These samples were analyzed on Special Chemistry analyzer, Beckman coulter access 2. Hormones LH and FSH were done in the follicular phase of menstrual cycle. Infertility was categorized as primary and secondary infertility. Statistical analysis was done with version 25 of SPSS.

Results: The mean age of study participant was 28.73±5.618 with min=18-max=45.  The highest percentage of females (52.2%) were in the age group of 18-28 years, 372 (87.9%) belonged to urban areas whereas (12.1%) were from rural areas, 376(88.9%) were housewives and 47(11.1%) are working women. Primary infertile patients are 69.7% and secondary infertile patients are 30.3%, thirty-four percent had infertility duration of 4 to 6 years. Other prevalent risk factors were, irregular cycles (22.5%), weight gain (44.9%), dysmenorrhea (49.6%), hypertensive (7.1%), acne (18.4%), hirsutism (27.7%), galactorrhea (4%), tenderness (3.8%), PCOS (18.9%), on contraceptives (31%), cysts in adnexal USG (12%), thyroid disorders (5%) and diabetes (14%). Means along with S.D of hormone FSH (low= 2.65±o.98, high=11.1±4.1, normal=5.6±1.068), LH (low=.22±0.16, high=11.7±6.52, normal=3.66±1.28) and prolactin (normal=13.01±5.76, high=38.19±17.52). Women with PCOS were likely to have low levels of FSH (OR=4.846, 95% CI=1.880-12.493, P-value 0.001).  

Conclusion: polycystic ovarian syndrome is the main endocrine disorder that leads to infertility in females.