Association of Body Mass Index with Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis Hormones in Infertile Women in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infertility is well-known global health problem that has significant impacts on an individual, families and communities. Many modifiable lifestyle risk factors increase the risk of women to several reproductive disorders. Aim: This study established the relationship between obesity and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis hormones in infertile women in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Methodology: Six hundred and twenty-six (626) women aged 18 - 40 years comprising of 513 obese infertile women and 113 non obese women who served as control were recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken and Body Mass Index was calculated. A non-fasting venous blood sample was collected from the women and analyzed for serum Estrogen, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Progesterone, Inhibin B, and Prolactin using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: In the present study, the Body Mass Index of women with primary (1°) infertility is significantly (p hyperestrogenism is the most prevalent gonadal disorder in women with primary infertility and secondary infertility. The BMI of infertile women suffering Hyperestrogenism is significantly higher than any other female gonadal disorder. The result also showed that there is statistically significant positive correlation between BMI and Hypogonadism, Hypogonadotropic and Amenorrhoea in obese infertility women. While, no significant correlation between BMI and Hypergonadism and Hypergonadotropic was observed. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between BMI and Hypothalamus-Pituitary Ovarian hormones, as BMI showed a positive correlation with LH, FSH, Estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin in women with primary and secondary infertility, while Inhibin B showed a negative correlation with BMI. Conclusion: There is a relationship between BMI and Hypothalamus-Pituitary Ovarian hormones, signifying that obesity could affect female reproduction and directly impact ovarian function. Therefore, body weight maintenance should be considered as a first line of management of Hypothalamus-Pituitary Ovarian hormonal related infertility.