Ovarian function in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

To study the hormonal and ovulatory ovarian function in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus 180 patients of reproductive age with type 1 diabetes were examined. Basal-bolus insulin therapy received 146 patients (81.1 %), insulin pomp therapy received 34 women (18.9 %). Examination included: determination of blood glucose level and glycated hemoglobin, content of FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, total and free testosterone, and progesterone in peripheral blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, determination of autoantibodies against ovarian tissue by indirect immunofluorescence, pelvic ultrasonography. Ovarian insufficiency was present in 62.2 % of women surveyed. An association of ovarian insufficiency with the glycemia level, glycosylated hemoglobin and the dose of insulin was found. There was no dependence of ovarian function and insulin regimens or the severity of microvascular complications of diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes had an increase of ovarian volume and the number of antral follicles compared with those in healthy women. These patients exhibit elevated levels of LH, estradiol and free testosterone in peripheral blood. Ovarian volume increased correlated with the presence and severity microvascular complications of diabetes and the dose of insulin. Autoantibodies against ovarian tissue were found only in 3.6 % women of type 1 diabetes mellitus.