Serum Gonadotrophin Levels in Breastfeeding Mothers Presenting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: There is paucity of data on serum gonadotrophin levels in breastfeeding mothers in our environment. The study aims at determining the serum level of follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and beta human chorionic gonadotrophins (β‑hCG) in breastfeeding mothers and comparing with that of the controls. Subject and Method: Serum gonadotrophins levels were measured using commercially prepared enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay kit in 100 breastfeeding Nigerian women while 60 nonbreastfeeding ones (30 nonpregnant and 30 pregnant) served as controls. The participants were recruited consecutively from clients attending antenatal care at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Results: The mean ± standard error of the mean serum level of FSH, LH, and β‑hCG in mIU/ml was 5.97 ± 0.53, 7.15 ± 1.04, and 27.03 ± 3.16, respectively, at puerperium. Serum β‑hCG level was significantly higher in breastfeeding group compared to the nonpregnant control (p < 0.05), but lower than that of the pregnant control (p < 0.05). Serum FSH is significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the breastfeeding group (5.97 ± 0.53 mIU/ml) compared to the non-pregnant control (8.99 ± 0.68 mIU/ml), but similar to that of the pregnant control. Serum LH however was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the breastfeeding group (7.15 ± 1.04 mIU/ml) compared to the pregnant control (11.58 ± 0.7 mIU/ml). Conclusion: The serum β‑hCG level was higher in breastfeeding mothers compared to the non-pregnant control. Thus, there is the need to establish separate reference values for gonadotrophins in mothers during puerperium. These reference values may be beneficial for detection of impaired level, especially of β‑hCG in choriocarcinoma and other trophoblastic diseases at puerperium.