Basal FSH concentrations as a marker of ovarian ageing are not related to pregnancy outcome in a general population of women over 30 years.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies suggest that elevated basal FSH concentrations are related to aneuploid pregnancies. However, there have been no prospective studies evaluating the incidence of aneuploidies in relation to basal FSH concentrations. Since the majority of aneuploid conceptions end in early pregnancy loss or abortion of a recognized pregnancy, these determinants are appropriate intermediate end-points to study aneuploidy.


METHODS
We performed a prospective study in 129 women without a history of subfertility pursuing a spontaneous pregnancy. Basal FSH concentrations were measured during three menstrual cycles. Urinary HCG levels were measured during menstruation for a maximum of six menstrual cycles, to detect early pregnancy loss. We estimated the effect of basal FSH concentrations on pregnancy outcome, taking into account possible confounders.


RESULTS
We observed no significant effect of basal FSH concentrations on the incidence of early pregnancy loss or abortion of clinically recognized pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in a population of women without a history of subfertility, pursuing a spontaneous pregnancy, basal FSH concentrations are not related to the incidence of early pregnancy loss or abortions. This prospective study therefore fails to confirm a relationship between signs of decreased ovarian reserve and aneuploid pregnancies.
van Montfrans
J M
JM
Research Institute for Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.vanmontfrans@zonnet.nl
van Hooff
M H A
MH
Huirne
J A
JA
Tanahatoe
S J
SJ
Sadrezadeh
S
S
Martens
F
F
van Vugt
J M G
JM
Lambalk
C B
CB
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000782:Aneuploidy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone