Absence of a correlation between intra-follicular androgen and AMH levels and the oocyte count in poor responder patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

Abstract

Androgens are male hormones and precursors of female hormones. Testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEA), and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) enhance follicular recruitment and promote follicular growth and development. Clinical reports have demonstrated that co-treatment with androgens, such as DHEA and Androderm (transdermal testosterone) may increase both quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and improve pregnancy outcomes in women with diminished ovarian function or premature ovarian failure. This study was designed to find correlations between intra-follicular androgen and AMH levels and the amount of oocytes retrieved from ovarian responders and poor-responders. We enrolled 40 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and tested their follicular fluid for testosterone, DHEA, and AMH levels. AMH levels were significantly different between the groups. However, no correlations were observed between the levels of testosterone, DHEA, or AMH and the amounts of retrieved oocytes. No correlations were observed between androgens and AMH levels with the amount of oocytes in either group. Thus, there is no correlation between intra-follicular androgen and AMH levels and the amount of oocytes in both responders and poor responders. A larger sample size and multi-center study design is needed to confirm this.