Body size affects measures of ovarian reserve in late reproductive age women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between obesity and serum and ultrasound measures of ovarian reserve in late reproductive age women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 36 healthy women, ages 40 to 52 years. Women were recruited in a 1:1 ratio of normal weight (body mass index <25) to obese women (body mass index >or=30). Early follicular phase blood draw, anthropometric measurements, and a transvaginal ultrasonography were performed. Outcome measures were serum antimullerian hormone, inhibin B, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, ultrasound ovarian volume, and antral follicle count.


RESULTS
Mean antral follicle count was 7.6 for normal weight and 6.3 for obese women (P = 0.35). Proportions of normal weight (17%) versus obese women (22%) with antral follicle count less than 4 were similar. Ovarian volumes did not differ by body size. In adjusted models, antimullerian hormone levels in obese women were 77% lower on average than those in normal weight women (P = 0.02). Inhibin B levels were 24% lower in obese women compared with normal weight women (P = 0.08). Follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol were not associated with body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
Although antral follicle count did not differ by body size, antimullerian hormone was lower in obese compared with normal weight late reproductive age women. These data suggest that lower antimullerian hormone levels in obese late reproductive age women result from physiologic processes other than decreased ovarian reserve.
Su
H Irene
HI
Department of Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. isu@obgyn.upenn.edu
Sammel
Mary D
MD
Freeman
Ellen W
EW
Lin
Hui
H
DeBlasis
Tracey
T
Gracia
Clarisa R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis
D006062:Gonadotropins; C422364:inhibin B; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone