title: Age-specific nomograms for follicle stimulating hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone: A pilot study in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of ovarian reserve is one of the steps in the management of infertile couples. Follicle Stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are commonly used ovarian reserve markers in Africa. However, there is paucity of age-specific reference values for FSH and AMH among the African population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at conducting a pilot study for generation of age-specific nomograms for FSH and AMH among fertile women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot cross-sectional study that involved 65 fertile women within the age range of 18-45 yr were prospectively and consecutively recruited from November 2014 to January 2015. Peripheral blood samples were taken for basal serum FSH and random serum AMH. The samples were processed using enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-specific FSH nomogram showed a gradual increase which became steeper at age 35 yr with an average yearly increase of 0.2 IU/L in basal serum FSH, while age-specific AMH nomogram showed a peak at 25 yr and then; an average yearly decrease of 0.11 ng/ml in random serum AMH from 25 yr.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age-specific nomograms generated by this pilot study suggest that AMH may be an earlier marker of reduced ovarian reserve; which if validated by future multicenter population based studies may facilitate counseling of women on their reproductive potentials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omoladun Temitope
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Okunola
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olusegun Kayode
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Ajenifuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Morebise Olabisi
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Loto
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Afolabi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salawu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oluseyi Stephen
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Omitinde
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akande
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oke
keywords: Anti-Müllerian hormone; Follicle stimulating hormone; Nomogram; Ovarian reserve; Reference values