Analysing adherence to guidelines for time-lapse imaging information on UK fertility clinic websites.

This study aims to systematically analyze the provision of information on Time-lapse Imaging (TLI) by UK fertility clinic websites. We conducted an analysis of 106 clinic websites that offer fertility treatment to self-funded patients. The analysis aimed to examine whether these clinics offer TLI, the associated cost for patients, and the clarity and quality of the provided information. Out of the 106 websites analysed, 71 (67%) claimed to offer TLI. Among these websites, 25 (35.2%) mentioned charging patients between £300 and £850, 25 (35.8%) claimed not to charge patients, and 21 (29.6%) did not provide any cost information for TLI. Furthermore, 64 (90.1%) websites made claims or implied that TLI leads to improved clinical outcomes by enhancing embryo selection. Notably, 34 (47.9%) websites did not mention or provide any links to the HFEA rating system. It is crucial to provide patients with clear and accurate information to enable them to make fully informed decisions about TLI, particularly when they are responsible for the associated costs. The findings of this study raise concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the information available on fertility clinic websites, which are typically the primary source of information for patients.

Does proximity to a fertility centre increase the chance of achieving pregnancy in Northeastern Ontario?

INTRODUCTION: Northern Ontario has a population of approximately 800,000 people distributed over 806,707 km2. Before 2018, the only fertility treatment centre in Northern Ontario was located in Thunder Bay; many patients travelled south for care. In 2018, the Northeastern Ontario Women's Health Network (NEOWHN) opened in Sudbury, providing fertility treatments to people living in Northeastern Ontario. The goal of this study was to determine if proximity to this new fertility centre increases one's chance of achieving pregnancy when undergoing fertility treatment. Secondary outcomes included the quantity and types of fertility investigations and treatments completed by patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients seeking fertility treatment at NEOWHN between January 2019 and December 2020. Traveling >100 km to access healthcare was considered to be a clinically significant determinant of health. RESULTS: Seven hundred and 5 patients were seen in consultation for fertility services at NEOWHN during the study period. One hundred eighty-one of 478 (37.9%) patients living <100 km from NEOWHN achieved pregnancy compared to 39 of 227 (17.2%) patients living >100 km from NEOWHN (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Living in proximity (<100 km) to NEOWHN increased the likelihood that individuals in Northeastern Ontario would seek fertility services and would achieve pregnancy. Financial constraints and inaccessibility likely play a role in this, but further studies are needed to explain this difference. INTRODUCTION: Le Nord de l'Ontario compte une population d'environ 800,000 personnes réparties sur 806,707 km2. Avant 2018, le seul centre de traitement de la fertilité du Nord de l'Ontario était situé à Thunder Bay; de nombreux patients SE rendaient dans le sud pour recevoir des soins. En 2018, le Northeastern Ontario Women's Health Network (NEOWHN-le Réseau de santé des femmes du Nord-Est de l'Ontario) a ouvert ses portes à Sudbury, offrant des traitements de fertilité aux personnes vivant dans le Nord-Est de l'Ontario. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer si la proximité de ce nouveau centre de fertilité augmente les chances d'obtenir une grossesse lors d'un traitement de fertilité. Les résultats secondaires comprenaient la quantité et les types d'examens et de traitements de fertilité effectués par les patients. MTHODES: Une étude rétrospective des dossiers a été réalisée pour tous les patients cherchant un traitement de fertilité au NEOWHN entre janvier 2019 et décembre 2020. Le fait de voyager >100 km pour accéder aux soins de santé a été considéré comme un déterminant de la santé cliniquement significatif. RSULTATS: Seven hundred and 5 patients ont été vus en consultation pour des services de fertilité au NEOWHN pendant la période d'étude. One hundred eighty-one des 478 (37.9%) patientes vivant à moins de 100 km du NEOWHN ont obtenu une grossesse, contre 39 des 227 (17.2%) patientes vivant à plus de 100 km du NEOWHN (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Le fait de vivre à proximité (<100 km) du NEOWHN augmente la probabilité que les habitants du Nord-Est de l'Ontario aient recours à des services de fertilité et obtiennent une grossesse. Les contraintes financières et l'inaccessibilité jouent probablement un rôle à cet égard, mais d'autres études sont nécessaires pour expliquer cette différence.

Predictors of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentrations among U.S. Couples Attending a Fertility Clinic.

Previous studies have examined the predictors of PFAS concentrations among pregnant women and children. However, no study has explored the predictors of preconception PFAS concentrations among couples in the United States. This study included 572 females and 279 males (249 couples) who attended a U.S. fertility clinic between 2005 and 2019. Questionnaire information on demographics, reproductive history, and lifestyles and serum samples quantified for PFAS concentrations were collected at study enrollment. We examined the PFAS distribution and correlation within couples. We used Ridge regressions to predict the serum concentration of each PFAS in females and males using data of (1) socio-demographic and reproductive history, (2) diet, (3) behavioral factors, and (4) all factors included in (1) to (3) after accounting for temporal exposure trends. We used general linear models for univariate association of each factor with the PFAS concentration. We found moderate to high correlations for PFAS concentrations within couples. Among all examined factors, diet explained more of the variation in PFAS concentrations (1-48%), while behavioral factors explained the least (0-4%). Individuals reporting White race, with a higher body mass index, and nulliparous women had higher PFAS concentrations than others. Fish and shellfish consumption was positively associated with PFAS concentrations among both females and males, while intake of beans (females), peas (male), kale (females), and tortilla (both) was inversely associated with PFAS concentrations. Our findings provide important data for identifying sources of couples' PFAS exposure and informing interventions to reduce PFAS exposure in the preconception period.

High Serum Homocysteine among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Visiting an Infertility Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age which is characterized by hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovarian morphology, ovarian dysfunction, and hyperinsulinemia. Increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and higher cardiovascular morbidity is seen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of high serum homocysteine levels among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome visiting an infertility clinic of a tertiary care centre. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome visiting an infertility clinic at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care centre from 1 June 2023 to 1 September 2023. The study was conducted after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Biochemical analysis of gonadal hormones, serum homocysteine and lipid profile was done. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% confidence interval. Results: Among 76 women, the prevalence of high serum homocysteine level was found in 54 (71.05%) (60.86-81.25, 95% Confidence Interval). The mean age of patients was 27.46±6.18 years. Conclusions: The prevalence of high homocysteine levels among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome is higher than other studies done in similar settings. Keywords: body mass index; homocysteine; polycystic ovary syndrome; prevalence.

Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid function biomarkers among females attending a fertility clinic.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure was associated with changes in thyroid function in pregnant mothers and the general population. Limited such evidence exists in other susceptible populations such as females with fertility problems. This cross-sectional study included 287 females seeking medically assisted reproduction at a fertility clinic in Massachusetts, United States, between 2005 and 2019. Six long-alkyl chain PFAS, thyroid hormones, and autoimmune antibodies were quantified in baseline serum samples. We used generalized linear models and quantile g-computation to evaluate associations of individual PFAS and their total mixture with thyroid biomarkers. Most females were White individuals (82.7%), had graduate degrees (57.8%), and nearly half had unexplained subfertility (45.9%). Serum concentrations of all examined PFAS and their mixture were significantly associated with 2.6%-5.6% lower total triiodothyronine (TT3) concentrations. Serum concentrations of perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA), and of the total mixture were associated with higher ratios of free thyroxine (FT4) to free triiodothyronine (FT3). No associations were found for PFAS and TSH or autoimmune antibodies. Our findings support the thyroid-disrupting effect of long alkyl-chain PFAS among a vulnerable population of subfertile females.

Urinary concentrations of bisphenol A and its alternatives: Potential predictors of and associations with antral follicle count among women from an infertility clinic in Northern China.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have suggested exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and its alternatives, such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), may exert adverse effects on ovarian reserve, but human evidence is limited. Moreover, the potential predictors of exposure to bisphenols among women seeking infertility treatment have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether individual or mixture of BPA, BPF, and BPS were related to antral follicle count (AFC), and further identify the predictors of exposure to bisphenols among women seeking assisted reproductive treatment. METHODS: A total of 111 women from a reproductive center in Shenyang, China were enrolled in this study from September 2020 to February 2021. The concentrations of urinary BPA, BPF, and BPS were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). AFC was measured by two infertility physicians through transvaginal ultrasonography on the 2-5 days of a natural cycle. Demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and lifestyles were obtained by questionnaires. The associations between individual and mixture of urinary bisphenols concentrations (BPA, BPF, and BPS) and AFC were assessed by the Poisson regression models and the quantile-based g-computation (QGC) model, respectively. The potential predictors of exposure to bisphenols were identified by the multivariate linear regression models. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounders, elevated urinary concentrations of BPA, BPF and BPS were associated with reduced AFC (ß = -0.016; 95%CI: -0.025, -0.006 in BPA; ß = -0.017; 95%CI: -0.029, -0.004 in BPF; ß = -0.128; 95%CI: -0.197, -0.060 in BPS). A quantile increase in the bisphenols mixture was negatively associated with AFC (ß = -0.101; 95%CI: -0.173, -0.030). Intake of fried food had higher urinary concentrations of BPF, BPS, and total bisphenols (∑BPs) than women who did not eat, and age was related to increased urinary BPF concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that exposure to individual BPA, BPF, BPS and bisphenol mixtures were associated with impaired ovarian reserve. Furthermore, the intake of fried food, as identified in this study, could serve as an important bisphenols exposure route for reproductive-aged women.

Ten years of in vitro fertilization in Indonesia: Access to infertility care in a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to assess access to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and the current status of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) program that have been implemented in Indonesia over the last 10 years. METHODS: We established a retrospective cohort study and descriptive analysis of the current state of access to infertility care in Indonesia. The data were collected from all IVF centers, clinics, and hospitals in Indonesia from 2011 to 2020, including the number of IVF clinics, total ART cycles, retrieved fresh and frozen embryos, average age of IVF patients, IVF pregnancy rate, and causes of infertility. RESULTS: The number of reported fertility clinics in Indonesia has increased from 14 clinics in 2011 to 41 clinics by 2020. As many as 69 569 ART cycles were conducted over the past 10 years, of which 51 892 cycles used fresh embryos and 17 677 cycles used frozen embryos. The leading cause of consecutive infertility diagnosis was male infertility. Nearly half of the women who underwent IVF procedures (48.9%) were under 35 years old. The pregnancy rate outcome of women who underwent IVF ranged from 24.6% to 37.3%. CONCLUSION: Developments in ART in Indonesia have led to improvements in the ART cycles performed throughout the 10 year period. The identification of key areas that require improvement can provide an opportunity to enhance access to infertility care.

Low E-visibility of embryologists on fertility clinic websites: a web-based cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the visibility of embryologists on fertility clinic websites among Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) member clinics. METHODS: During a 1-month interval (March 2022), all Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) member fertility clinic websites were evaluated. The professional representation of the primary care team was examined including specialties, the presence of headshots, and biographies. RESULTS: A total of 446 fertility clinic websites were scanned in the search. The embryology team has the least common professional identification by their names (53.58%) compared to gynecology clinicians (96.21%, p < 0.001) and nurses (55.58%, p < 0.001). This trend also applies to other types of professional identifiers, such as headshots and biographies. Professional headshots of embryologists (50.34%) were less prominent than those of gynecology clinicians (93.51%, p < 0.001). A similar trend was observed in the biographies of the embryology team (47.20%) compared to gynecology clinicians (95.08%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that embryologists have low professional visibility on fertility clinic websites. Fertility clinics may prioritize enhancing the online visibility of their embryology laboratory team. This approach could potentially enhance the recognition of their team, foster transparency, and provide accessible information about the skills and expertise of healthcare professionals involved in the treatment process.

Patient satisfaction with telemedicine and in-person visits in reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinics.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is patient satisfaction higher with telemedicine visits or in-person visits for an initial consultation in the ambulatory fertility setting? DESIGN: A survey study of fertility patients who had an initial consultation visit between January 2018 and September 2022 was conducted using a nationally distributed survey. Patient satisfaction and other outcomes pertaining to patient experience were compared between telemedicine and in-person visits. RESULTS: In total, 682 participants completed the survey nationwide; of these, 425 respondents had an in-person visit and 257 respondents had a telemedicine visit. Age, geographic region, race, education level, employment status, income level and marital status did not differ between the groups. Overall, 69.6% of participants were satisfied with telemedicine visits, with improvement in partner participation. More patients were satisfied with in-person visits compared with telemedicine visits (82.6% versus 69.6%, P<0.001), and more patients preferred in-person visits to telemedicine visits regardless of the type of appointment they had for their initial visit. In a subgroup analysis of patients seen during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, patients who had telemedicine visits were younger, more likely to be White, more educated and had a higher income compared with patients who had in-person visits. CONCLUSIONS: Previously, the impact of telemedicine in the fertility setting was largely unknown. This study demonstrated that the majority of patients were satisfied with health care through telemedicine visits. However, patients were more satisfied with in-person visits, and preferred in-person visits to telemedicine visits. Further studies are needed to help clarify the differences in patient satisfaction with visit type, and to assess the role of telemedicine in future fertility care.

Infertility clinics and acupuncture: a qualitative web-based study.

The increasing demand for fertility treatments has led to the rise of private clinics offering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. The most frequently offered CAM infertility treatment is acupuncture. However, there is no good evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating infertility. This study evaluates the scope of information provided by CAM fertility clinics in the UK. A content analysis was conducted on 200 websites of CAM fertility clinics in the UK that offer acupuncture as a treatment for infertility. Of the 48 clinics that met the eligibility criteria, the majority of the websites did not provide sufficient information on the efficacy, risks and success rates of acupuncture for infertility. This has the potential to infringe on patient autonomy, provide false hope and reduce the chances of pregnancy ever being achieved as fertility declines during the time course of ineffective acupuncture treatment.

Quality of life and associated factors among infertile women attending infertility clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, it is estimated at least 50 million couples are affected by infertility with the prevalence of infertility being 16% in Tanzania. Psychological impact of infertility in patients negatively affects women's Quality of Life (QoL) defined as a person`s perception of where they are in life in terms of culture and value in the emotional, mind-body, relational, social, environment and tolerability of treatment aspects. Poor Quality of Life is related to increased treatment discontinuation. The aim of this study was to determine the Quality of Life and associated factors among infertile women attending infertility clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar. METHODS: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 infertile women attending infertility clinic at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar. Data was collected using FertiQoL tool. The factors associated with Quality of Life using FertiQoL tool in infertile women were estimated in a multivariable linear regression model at 95% confidence interval and 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Quality of life of infertile women at Mnazi Mmoja infertility clinic was 70.6 ± 10.0 on a scale of 0 to 100. It increased significantly with increase in educational level (p = 0.009). Women with female individual causes on average had 5.07 (B=- 5.07, 95%CI: -7.78, -2.35) and women with individual and respective male partner causes of infertility had on average 4.95 (B= -4.95, 95% CI: -7.77, -2.12) respective decrease in the FertiQoL scores compared to those who had their male partner with problems as reason for infertility. There was an average 4.50 (B=-4.50, 95% CI: 2.30, 6.70) decrease in quality of life in women with secondary infertility compared to women with primary infertility. Every month increase in duration of infertility led to an average of 0.04 (B=-2.57, 95%CI: -0.07, -0.01) decrease in FertiQoL scores. CONCLUSION: The overall quality of life in this population was positively associated with level of education but negatively affected with reason for infertility, type of infertility and duration of infertility.

Belgian Fertility Clinic Staff Value Healthy Lifestyle Promotion but Lack Access to a Structured Lifestyle Modification Programme: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Guidelines advise promoting a healthy lifestyle among patients with fertility problems as the lifestyle of women and men proved to be associated with their fertility. Australian fertility nurses were shown to lack access to structured lifestyle modification programmes, although they value healthy lifestyle promotion. This study aimed to examine whether gynaecologists also value promoting a healthy lifestyle and whether structured lifestyle modification programmes are available in Belgian fertility clinics. DESIGN: An observational study was conducted among health care professionals (HCPs) working in Belgian fertility clinics. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: An Australian questionnaire on attitudes and practices related to promoting a healthy lifestyle among patients with fertility problems was reciprocally back-to-back translated and three open-ended questions were added. All HCPs of Belgian fertility clinics, including gynaecologists, fertility nurses/midwives, psychologists, and embryologists, were invited by e-mail to complete the questionnaire online. Responses to closed and open-ended questions were analysed with, respectively, descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis. Finally, differences in perspectives between different groups of HCPs were explored. RESULTS: A total of 50 fertility nurses/midwives, 42 gynaecologists, and 19 other HCPs completed the survey (n = 111). Regarding attitudes, all respondents valued informing patients about the impact of lifestyle on fertility. The vast majority of HCPs (n = 96; 86%) stated that fertility clinics have the responsibility to address unhealthy lifestyles prior to offering fertility treatment. Fertility nurses/midwives were significantly more likely than gynaecologists to state that fertility clinics have this responsibility (p = 0.040). Regarding practices, the patient's lifestyle was most commonly discussed by the gynaecologist (n = 107; 96%) during the first appointment (n = 105; 95%). The lifestyle factors that were being addressed, according to the vast majority of respondents, were smoking, weight, age, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Only three HCPs (from three different clinics) stated that their clinic offered a structured lifestyle modification programme. HCPs explained that they lacked the resources and expertise for offering a structured lifestyle modification programme. LIMITATIONS: Response rates were limited, but the responding Belgian gynaecologists and fertility nurses/midwives confirmed the findings of the previous study in Australian fertility nurses. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs working in Belgian fertility clinics value healthy lifestyle promotion but lack access to structured lifestyle modification programmes to implement in their daily clinical practice. Future studies should focus on developing and evaluating structured lifestyle modification programmes for patients with fertility problems.

Mixtures of urinary concentrations of phenols and phthalate biomarkers in relation to the ovarian reserve among women attending a fertility clinic.

Although prior studies have found associations of the ovarian reserve with urinary concentrations of some individual phenols and phthalate metabolites, little is known about the potential associations of these chemicals as a mixture with the ovarian reserve. We investigated whether mixtures of four urinary phenols (bisphenol A, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben) and eight metabolites of five phthalate diesters including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were associated with markers of the ovarian reserve among 271 women attending a fertility center who enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health study (2004-2017). The analysis was restricted to one outcome per study participant using the earliest outcome after the last exposure assessment. Ovarian reserve markers included lower antral follicle count (AFC) defined as AFC < 7, circulating serum levels of day 3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) assessed by immunoassays, and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) defined as either AFC < 7, FSH > 10 UI/L or primary infertility diagnosis of DOR. We applied Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation to estimate the joint associations and assess the interactions between chemical exposure biomarkers on the markers of the ovarian reserve while adjusting for confounders. Among all 271 women, 738 urine samples were collected. In quantile g-computation models, a quartile increase in the exposure biomarkers mixture was not significantly associated with lower AFC (OR = 1.10, 95 % CI = 0.52, 2.30), day 3 FSH levels (Beta = 0.30, 95 % CI = -0.32, 0.93) or DOR (OR = 1.02, 95 % CI = 0.52, 2.05). Similarly, BKMR did not show any evidence of associations between the mixture and any of the studied outcomes, or interactions between chemicals. Despite the lack of associations, these results need to be explored among women in other study cohorts.

Factors associated with a positive experience at US fertility clinics: the male partner perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with a positive male patient experience (PMPE) at fertility clinics among male patients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study Setting: Not applicable Patients: Male respondents to the FertilityIQ questionnaire ( www.fertilityiq.com ) reviewing the first or only US clinic visited between June 2015 and August 2020. INTERVENTIONS: None Main outcome measures: PMPE was defined as a score of 9 or 10 out of 10 to the question, "Would you recommend this fertility clinic to a best friend?". Examined predictors included demographics, payment details, infertility diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes, physician traits, and clinic operations and resources. Multiple imputation was used for missing variables and logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for factors associated with PMPE. RESULTS: Of the 657 men included, 60.9% reported a PMPE. Men who felt their doctor was trustworthy (aOR 5.01, 95% CI 0.97-25.93), set realistic expectations (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.10-6.80), and was responsive to setbacks (aOR 2.43, 95% CI 1.14-5.18) were more likely to report PMPE. Those who achieved pregnancy after treatment were more likely to report PMPE; however, this was no longer significant on multivariate analysis (aOR 1.30, 95% CI 0.68-2.47). Clinic-related factors, including ease of scheduling appointments (aOR 4.03, 95% CI 1.63-9.97) and availability of same-day appointments (aOR 4.93, 95% CI 1.75-13.86), were associated with PMPE on both univariate and multivariate analysis. LGBTQ respondents were more likely to report PMPE, whereas men with a college degree or higher were less likely to report PMPE; however, sexual orientation (aOR 3.09, 95% CI 0.86-11.06) and higher educational level (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30-1.10) were not associated with PMPE on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Physician characteristics and clinic characteristics indicative of well-run administration were the most highly predictive of PMPE. By identifying factors that are associated with a PMPE, clinics may be able to optimize the patient experience and improve the quality of infertility care that they provide for both men and women.

Hormonal Profile of Women Attending Fertility Clinic in Zaria, North-west, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Infertility affects approximately 186 million people worldwide and 8-12% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. Female infertility remains the commonest gynaecological case attended to in many fertility centres across Nigeria with a national prevalence of infertility between 10-23.6%. The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of hormonal interplay and organ sensitivity account for about 19% of the cause of infertility in females in Nigeria and the laboratory assessment of the hormones of this axis have been a significant goal standard in the diagnosis as well as treatment. OBJECTIVES: The study investigated the pattern of the HPG hormones seen in infertile women in a Nigerian fertility treatment centre to identify and classify the causes. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional randomized study of 125 participants was selected and stratified into 47 primary and 78 secondary infertility participants respectively, conducted between Oct 2016 and August 2017. The control participants consisted of apparently healthy women, age-matched. Serum levels of four hormones [luteinizing hormones (LH), follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH), prolactin, and oestradiol] were assayed using the ELISA technique. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean age of infertile women was 30.4±5.8 years. Serum levels of prolactin (10.6±9.3) and oestradiol (301±157.9) were significantly (p= ≤ 0.05) higher among the participants. However, the levels of LH and FSH were similar among the participants and controls (p = ≤0.77 and ≤0.07 respectively). CONCLUSION: Hyperprolactinaemia and oestradiolaemia are characteristics of secondary female infertility in Nigeria. Laboratory evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with thyroid hormones cannot be over- emphasized for a proper diagnosis and impact on the treatment of infertility.

CONTEXTE: L'infertilité touche environ 186 millions de personnes dans le monde et 8 à 12 % des couples en âge de procréer. L'infertilité féminine reste le cas gynécologique le plus fréquent dans de nombreux centres de fertilité au Nigeria, avec une prévalence nationale de l'infertilité comprise entre 10 et 23,6 %. L'axe hypothalamohypophyso- gonadique (HPG) de l'interaction hormonale et de la sensibilité des organes représente environ 19 % des causes d'infertilité chez les femmes au Nigeria et l'évaluation en laboratoire des hormones de cet axe a été une norme importante dans le diagnostic et le traitement. OBJECTIFS DE L'ÉTUDE: L'étude a examiné le profil des hormones HPG observées chez les femmes infertiles dans un centre Nigérian de traitement de la fertilité afin d'identifier et de classer les causes. MÉTHODES: Une étude descriptive transversale randomisée de 125 participants a été sélectionnée et stratifiée en 47 participants d'infertilité primaire et 78 participants d'infertilité secondaire respectivement menée entre octobre 2016 et août 2017. Les participants de contrôle étaient des femmes apparemment en bonne santé appariées par l'âge. Les niveaux sériques de quatre hormones (hormones lutéinisantes (LH), hormones folliculo-stimulantes (FSH), prolactine et oestradiol) ont été dosés en utilisant la technique ELISA. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de SPSS version 20, la valeur p d"0,05 a été considérée comme significative. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des femmes infertiles était de 30,4±5,8. Les niveaux sériques de prolactine (10,6±9,3) et d'oestradiol (301±157,9) étaient significativement (p= ≤ 0.05) plus élevés chez les participantes. Cependant, les niveaux de LH et de FSH étaient similaires chez les participants et les témoins (p = ≤ 0.77 and ≤ 0.07 respectivement). CONCLUSION: L'hyperprolactinémie et l'oestradiolémie sont des caractéristiques de l'infertilité féminine secondaire au Nigeria. L'évaluation en laboratoire de l'axe hypothalamo-hypophysogonadique avec les hormones thyroïdiennes ne peut pas être trop soulignée pour un diagnostic approprié et un impact sur le traitement de l'infertilité. Mots clés: Profil, Hormones de reproduction, Infertilité.