56 THE EFFECTS OF SERUM LEVEL OF ANDROGENS, LUTEINIZING HORMONE, AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR 1 IN EARLY FOLLICULAR PHASE ON OVARIAN FOLLICULAR GROWTH PARAMETERS AND PREGNANCY RATE

Abstract

Many studies have showed the role of androgens on ovarian follicular maturation. The present study investigated the effect of serum concentration of androgens, LH, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in the early follicular phase on the results of the ovulation induction (I/O) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. This cross-sectional study was done in the infertility clinic of Akbar Abadi hospital. Fifty-nine infertile patients who were not affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) and were candidates for induction ovulation or intrauterine insemination were chosen at random. The serum concentrations of androgens (free testosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione), LH, and IGF1 were measured on the third day of menstruation. Sonographic monitoring was started from the ninth day of the cycle. The ampule of hCG was injected when there was at least one follicle with the diameter of 18 mm. The relationships of concentration of androgens, LH, and IGF1 with follicular growth parameters and pregnancy rate were analysed. There was no statistically significant link between the number and diameter of follicles with concentration of free testosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, IGF1, and LH. There was no statistically significant link between the number of follicles in the ovaries and concentrations of testosterone (P = 0.090 and r = 0.223), dihydroepiandrosterone (P = 0.642 and r = 0.062), androstenedione (P = 0.526 and r = 0.084), IGF1 (P = 0.470 and r = 0.096), and LH (P = 0.446 and r = 0.102). There was no statistically significant link between the mean follicular diameter and concentration of testosterone (P = 0.822 and r = 0.03), dihydroepiandrosterone (P = 0.733 and r = 0.045), androstenedione (P = 0.526 and r = 0.084), IGF1 (P = 0.799 and r = 0.034), and LH (P = 0.626 and r = 0.065). Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) was positive in 11 patients (18.6%) and negative in 48 patients (81.4%). Serum concentrations of androgen profile, LH, and IGF1 in the positive (β-hCG) group were not significantly different in comparison with the negative β-hCG group. It seems that in women who were not affected by PCO, concentrations of free testosterone, dihydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, IGF1, and LH in the early follicular phase were not related to follicular growth parameters and pregnancy rate.