ASSESSMENT OF SERUM, FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE, LUTEINIZING HORMONE, OESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE, PROLACTIN, AND URINARY FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE IN WOMEN PRESENTING WITH INFERTILITY IN BENIN CITY

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The reproductive potential of women is related to their age. The female physiology is such
that the ovaries are to supply on monthly basis eggs that will be needed for fertilization. As a
woman ages, her supply of eggs gradually decreases over time until the eggs are depleted at
menopause. The ovary is expected to age parallel to reproductive age, but sometimes it does
not behave as predicted. That is the reason why, screening for ovarian reserve is an important
part of the initial evaluation for infertility patients of any age.
Women at risk of reproductive aging irrespective of their chronological age could be
identified early. Evaluating infertility require series of investigations which involves invasive
and cumbersome procedures. The use of urine markers of ovarian function would provide
non-invasive and less cumbersome method of assessing women that require treatment for
their infertility.
AIM
To determine the correlation between serum FSH/LH and urinary FSH/LH as tools for
assessing ovarian reserve in patients with infertility..
METHODS: Venous blood and early morning urine samples were collected from infertile
patients and controls on day3 and blood on day 21 of the menstrual cycle. The analysis was
done using ELISA technique for serum FSH, LH, oestradiol, prolactin and progesterone.
Urine FSH, LH and creatinine were also measured in patients and controls.
RESULTS: Seventy- one women participated in the study, 42 were infertile patients and 29
were controls (fertile women). Their mean age was 32.02 years and 31.2 years respectively.
The Pearson’s correlation coefficient between mean serum FSH and urinary FSH of first void
early morning urine sample of infertile patients was r = 0.094, p= 0.553, and that of controls
was 0.124, p= 0.522. The correlation between serum LH and urinary LH in infertile patients
was –0.019, p= 0.903 and controls 0.109, p= 0.574.
CONCLUSION: There was correlation between serum FSH, LH and urinary FSH, LH.
Urinary FSH and LH can be used as a tool to assess ovarian reserve in women with infertility.

ASSESSMENT OF SERUM, FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE, LUTEINIZING HORMONE, OESTRADIOL, PROGESTERONE, PROLACTIN, AND URINARY FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE IN WOMEN PRESENTING WITH INFERTILITY IN BENIN CITY