Relationship between Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin and Pregnancy Outcome in Women Undergoing Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation for Assisted Reproduction

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the changes of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) affect the pregnancy outcome in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for assisted reproduction. Forty-five infertile women who were undergoing pituitary desensitization and COH for in vitro fertilization (IVF) with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and 19 women with normal menstrual cycles participated in the study. Fasting blood samples of the follicular and luteal phases, including follicular fluid during oocyte retrieval, were obtained for determination of estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (P 4 ), testosterone (T), and SHBG concentrations. The SHBG levels increased progressively during the course of COH, but remained constant throughout normal menstrual cycles. A positive correlation existed between E 2 and SHBG levels in both the follicular and luteal phases. The mean plasma SHBG concentration and E 2 /T ratio were significantly higher, while the level of T and the free androgen index were significantly lower, in the luteal phase of women who conceived than in those who did not conceive following COH. The changes of follicular fluid SHBG level and E 2 /T ratio were similar to those in plasma. We concluded, therefore, that increases in SHBG in the follicular and luteal phases may be a reflection of the functional state of ovarian stimulation, and further that such elevations may influence the pregnancy outcome through the modulation of circulating estrogen and androgen balance during down-regulated COH cycles for IVF/ICSI.

Association of serum and follicular fluid SHBG levels andSHBG(TAAAA)npolymorphism with follicle size in women undergoing ovarian stimulation

“…Finally, in our study no association was found between the serum and follicular fluid SHBG levels and pregnancy outcome, whereas previous studies have shown conflicting results [14,15]. The concentrations of SHBG in stimulated cycles in both serum and follicular fluid are not statistically different between women who conceived and those who did not.…”

“…An increase of SHBG levels in serum and follicular fluid is observed during ovarian stimulation for IVF, presumably to regulate the bioactivity of sex steroids [12,13]. Conflicting results exist concerning its ability to affect fertilisation rates and pregnancy outcomes [14,15].…”

Dietary β-Tocopherol and Linoleic Acid, Serum Insulin, and Waist Circumference Predict Circulating Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Premenopausal Women

“…Oral, but not trans-dermal, administration of estradiol stimulated the synthesis of SHBG (40). Serum SHBG concentrations did not vary during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (41), suggesting that high levels of estradiol in the liver, achievable through the first-pass effect of oral estradiol, may be needed to influence serum SHBG concentrations. Luteal phase plasma progesterone had a univariate correlation with serum SHBG but not by multivariate regression.…”

The Effects of a Third Generation Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill on the Classical Singing Voice

“…SHBG concentrations do not vary during the menstrual cycle, thus a single measurement in the earlier follicular phase is sufficient to define SHBG concentration for the placebo and OCP cycles, and to allow calculations of free androgen index (FAI) for the studied phases of the menstrual cycle. 16 Blood samples were analyzed using (1) the IMMU-LITE analyzer (IMMULITE, Los Angeles, CA) for in vitro quantitative measurement of SHBG in serum; and (2) the ADVIA Centaur System (New York, NY) for in vitro quantitative measurement of total testosterone (bound and unbound) in serum, and the quantitative determination of estradiol, progesterone, follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) in human serum.…”