title: Endocervical mucus pH is inversely related to serum androgen levels and waist to hip ratio.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether an inter-relationship exists between endocervical mucus pH, serum androgen levels, and waist to hip (W:H) ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  Donor insemination clinic, University of Sheffield, Jessop Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients receiving donor insemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Waist, hip, height, and weight measurements were recorded for 100 patients receiving donor insemination. At the onset of the LH surge when patients attended for their first insemination, a sample of endocervical mucus and blood was taken. The Insler score of the mucus was recorded and the pH was measured with multirange pH paper. Of the 100 patients studied, 10 cases had an endocervical mucus pH < 6 despite Insler scores of > 10. Serum T, DHEAS, and androstenedione levels were measured in the 10 patients with pH < 6 and in 26 patients selected at random from the 90 patients with pH > or = 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The W:H ratio was significantly higher in the patients with pH < 6 than pH > or = 6. No significant difference was seen in body mass index between the latter groups. All serum androgen levels were significantly higher in the patients with pH < 6 than pH > or = 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A potential link (serum androgen levels) between a powerful predictive factor of fertility (W:H ratio) and a potential mechanism of subfertility (low endocervical mucus pH) has been demonstrated. This observation warrants further detailed evaluation particularly as it has been shown that a low endocervical mucus pH may be corrected by simple inexpensive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sheffield, Jessop Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sargeant
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate