Anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count in polycystic ovary syndrome and non-polycystic ovary syndrome women

Abstract

Background and objective: Although the ultimate pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome remains obscure, the distinctive feature is the failure of follicular maturation resulting in an ovulation and accumulation of preantral and small antral follicles which contribute significantly to the production of the anti-mullerian hormone. This study aimed to compare anti-mullerian hormone concentration and antral follicle count in polycystic ovary syndrome and non-polycystic ovary syndrome women regarding clinical, hormonal and ultrasound parameter in both groups.Methods: A cross-sectional study with comparison group study was conducted in the fertility and gynecology outpatient clinic in the Maternity Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq from April 1st, 2015, to December 31st, 2015. The study involved a total of 100 infertile women aged 18 - 39 years; 50 polycystic ovary syndrome women based on the Rotterdam criteria and 50 infertile non-polycystic ovary syndrome selected as a comparison group. Anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count in both groups were compared.Results: A strong, inverse and significant correlation was found between anti-mullerian hormone and age in each of the two study groups. A weak correlation was detected between anti-mullerian hormone with body mass index, luteinizing hormone, follicular stimulating hormone, and total testosterone, in each of the two study groups. A significant inverse correlation was detected between anti-mullerian hormone and luteinizing hormone/follicular stimulating hormone ratio in the non-polycystic ovary syndrome group (P <0.001). There was a statistically strong, significant and positive correlation between anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count in each of the study groups.Conclusion: Anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count are higher in polycystic ovary syndrome group than in non-polycystic ovary syndrome group. Elevated levels of the anti-mullerian hormone were associated and related to increased number of follicles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.