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Basal and cycle androgen levels correlate with in vitro fertilization stimulation parameters but do not predict pregnancy outcome.

Frattarelli JL, Gerber MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. jfrattarelli@rmanj.com

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate androgen levels before and during IVF. To assess for an association between androgen levels and IVF stimulation parameters or IVF pregnancy outcome. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Residency-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): One hundred seventeen infertility patients. INTERVENTION(S): Androgen levels were evaluated on basal day 3 and during the IVF stimulation cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy outcome rates and IVF stimulation parameters. RESULT(S): Mean serum androgen levels did not differ among different pregnancy outcomes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI) and oocyte number had a significant positive association with basal testosterone levels. Mean ovarian volume correlated negatively and follicle number correlated positively with testosterone levels on day 6 of stimulation. Peak E(2) and BMI correlated positively with testosterone on day of hCG administration. The interval change in androgen levels throughout the IVF cycle was not associated with outcome rates. Likewise, threshold analysis did not reveal any significant androgen level that affected pregnancy outcome. CONCLUSION(S): Serum androgen levels during IVF correlate with IVF stimulation parameters. However, these data do not support an influence of serum androgen levels on IVF pregnancy outcome rates.

Published 4 July 2006 in Fertil Steril, 86(1): 51-7.
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