Clinical Utility of Serum Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S) and Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Levels in Infertile Females.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and anti-mullerian hormone levels with infertility in females.

Study design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from July 2022 to August 2023.

Methodology: About 110 infertile females with infertility were enrolled in this study. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEA-S) were measured at 3rd menstruation day. Females with primary ovarian insufficiency, using androgen supplementation, and on hormonal therapy were excluded.

Results: Among the participants, 63.6% had primary infertility and 36.4% had secondary infertility. Both primary and secondary infertility had a positive correlation with serum AMH and DHEA-S levels (r = 0.685; p <0.001) and (r = 0.807; p <0.001), respectively. After ultrasound, 54 (49.1%) females were normal, 12 (10.9%) had PCOS, 12 (10.9%) had fibroids, 8 (7.3%) had fallopian tube defects, 10 (9.1%) had endometriosis, and 14 (12.7%) had low antral follicular count. The correlation between serum AMH and DHEA-S with different subgroups is as follows: Normal females (r = 0.731; p <0.001), PCOs (r = -0.232; p = 0.468), fibroids (r = 0.941, p <0.001), fallopian tube defects (r =-0.800; p = 0.017), endometriosis (r = -0.684, p = 0.013), and low antral follicular count (r = 0.643, p = 0.0130).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a positive correlation between serum AMH and DHEA-S levels in infertile females.

Key words: Infertile women, Ovarian reserve, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate.