Long-term effect of systemic isotretinoin on female fertility.
OBJECTIVE
Acne vulgaris is one of the most common diseases of the youth. Systemic isotretinoin is the only drug which acts on all of the etiopathogenic mechanisms of acne. Isotretinoin has some well-known side effects. Besides these, there is a suspicion whether it affects fertility or not. Previously, we conducted a study about isotretinoin's effect on ovarian reserve which showed deteriorative reserve. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of systemic isotretinoin on female fertility.


METHODS
Of the 82 female patients who were enrolled in the first study, 79 patients were included in this study. Twelve months after the end of systemic isotretinoin treatment, patients were reevaluated by using the same parameters which include anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), ovarian volume (OV), antral follicle count (AFC), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, free testosterone and total testosterone.


RESULTS
The changes in the mean AMH, OV and AFC were statistically significant between the sixth and eighteenth months (the end of systemic isotretinoin treatment and 12 months treatment free). The mean AMH, OV and AFC values at the beginning and at the 18th month were statistically similar.


CONCLUSIONS
The deteriorative effects of systemic isotretinoin treatment on ovarian reserve, which can be accepted as an indicator of female fertility, diminish in time.
a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine , Kayseri , Turkey.
Salih Levent
SL
Cinar
a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine , Kayseri , Turkey.
Demet
D
Kartal
b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department , Kayseri Military Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
Hüseyin
H
Aksoy
c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kayseri Acibadem Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
Elif
E
Cinar
c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Kayseri Acibadem Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey.
Turgut
T
Aydin
d Department of Biochemistry , Kayseri Education and Research Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey , and.
Leyla
L
Öz
e Department of Radiology , Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine , Kayseri , Turkey.
Hakan
H
İmamoğlu
a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine , Kayseri , Turkey.
Ayten
A
Ferahbas
a Department of Dermatology and Venereology , Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine , Kayseri , Turkey.
Murat
M
Borlu
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D065851:Ovarian Reserve / Q000187:drug effects*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D015474:Isotretinoin
Fertility; ovarian reserve; retinoic acid