IMPACTS OF STRESS BIOMARKERS ON SEX HORMONES IN IN FERTILE WOMEN IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abriba S. P. and Osadolor B. H. 

ABSTRACT

Background
Stress has been known to compromise bioch emical and physiological processes in humans. Could it
be a contributor to the causes of Infertility in women of child bearing age? Women with infertility are known to
present with high levels of stress and psychopathology. This study is aimed at determini ng the effect of stress on
sex hormones in infertile women and to ascertain their contributions to infertility in women of child bearing age.
Methods: A case control study was carried on 150 subjects who were randomly selected; they were divided into
study group made up of 50 infertile women, and 100 fertile women as control group; and Serum Luteinizing
Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Prolactin, Progesterone, Estrogen (E2), Salivary Cortisol and
Salivary Alpha Amylase were determined using both competitive and non competitive Enzyme Linked
Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques. Results: The mean serum Prolactin and Salivary(S) Cortisol and
Salivary Alpha Amylase in the women were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the study group relative to the control
group; while LH show no significant difference (p>0.05) between the two groups. FSH, Progesterone and E2, were
significantly lower in the study group (p<0.05) compared with the control group. Conclusion: Elevated stress
biomarkers are associat ed with abnormal sex hormone values in women presenting with infertility. Strong positive
correlations exist between abnormal sex hormones and stress biomarkers in infertility conditions.

Keywords: Infertility, Women, Biomarkers of Stress, Sex Hormones, R eproductive age.