Childhood cardiovascular health and subfertility: The bogalusa heart study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although childhood cardiovascular risk can contribute to adult cardiovascular disease, and fertility and adult cardiovascular health are linked, the association between early-life cardiovascular risk and female infertility has not been studied. METHODS: A total of 1799 women participated in the Babies substudy of the Bogalusa Heart Study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, glucose, and insulin were age-standardized and examined as predictors of self-reported fertility difficulties using multivariable logistic regression with adjustment for confounders. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was assessed via a report of diagnosis and symptoms, using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Women with a history of PCOS were more likely to report fertility difficulties. Childhood and adolescent cardiovascular risk factors were generally not associated with fertility indicators, although childhood LDL (aOR 1.38 per one-SD increase, 0.97–1.96) and total cholesterol (aOR 1.49, 1.06–2.11) were raised in those who never became pregnant. Pre-pregnancy risk SBP (overall fertility, aOR 1.49, 1.00–2.23) and glucose levels (ever tried but unable, aOR 2.65, 1.39–5.06) were associated with an increased risk of some infertility indicators. These results were largely unaffected by exclusion of women with PCOS. CONCLUSION: Some childhood and pre-pregnancy cardiovascular risk factors are associated with adult subfertility.