Physiological, endocrinological and environmental determinants of female infertility in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Female infertility has become a fundamental health and social issue globally. A number of factors have been reported to contribute to
this condition. In-vitro fertilization (IVF), a major technique used in tackling infertility has experienced relatively low success rate.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between physiological, endocrinological, environmental factor and infertility among Nigerian
infertile women.

Methods: Infertile women (n=190) from five fertility  clinics in Lagos, Nigeria were recruited. Structured  self-administered questionnaires were  distributed to  the participants to obtain their physiological parameters such as age, blood group, rhesus factor  and genotype. Blood samples of the participants were collected and analyzed for the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and prolactin (PRL) using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The heavy metals levels in the blood samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Results: Participants of the oldest age group (51 – 55 years) had elevated levels of the reproductive hormones compared to other age groups while participants with blood group A showed higher level of PRLcompared to other blood groups, whereas the levels of FSH and LH were higher in blood group O compared to other groups. Participants with the heterozygous genotype AS had higher basal level of PRLand LH, while participants with the homozygous genotype AA showed a higher basal level of FSH. The basal levels of the three reproductive hormones (FSH, LH and PRL) were higher in participants with rhesus negative when compared to those with rhesus positive. However, the variation in the hormone levels, blood groups and Rhesus factor were not significantly different (p<0.05) among the various participant groups. Nevertheless, heavy metals which include lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury were detected in blood samples of the participants.

Conclusion: Therefore, present study showed no association between blood group, genotype, Rhesus factor and infertility nor possible IVF outcome but it established that age and heavy metals may affect fertility via an imbalance in the basal levels of reproductive hormones.