The association between homocysteine in the follicular fluid with embryo quality and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2012-04, Vol.29 (4), p.299-304
• Main Authors: Ocal, Pelin, Ersoylu, Bilge, Cepni, Ismail, Guralp, Onur, Atakul, Nil, Irez, Tulay, Idil, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Assisted Reproduction Technologies; Body mass index; Embryo Transfer - methods; Embryos; Endothelium; Estradiol - metabolism; Female; Follicles; Follicular fluid; Follicular Fluid - metabolism; Gonadotropin-releasing hormone; Gonadotropins; Gynecology; Homocysteine; Homocysteine - metabolism; Hormones; Human Genetics; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Female; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics; Oocytes; Oocytes - metabolism; Oocytes - physiology; Ovaries; Ovulation; Patients; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Reproduction; Reproductive Medicine; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Reproductive technologies; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic - methods; Statistical analysis; Vitamin B; Womens health
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-012-9709-y

Purpose To investigate the association between follicular fluid homocysteine levels and embryo quality and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing assisted reproduction. Methods Fifty infertile women who were admitted to our clinic were enrolled in the study. Ovulation induction was performed by using GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. For each patient, homocysteine level in the follicular fluid was measured by using nephelometric method after the oocyte pick-up. The association between the homocysteine concentration in the follicular fluid and the oocyte–embryo quality, pregnancy rates and hormone levels were investigated. Results Mean ± SD Hcy was 9.6 ± 2.02 μmol/L and 14.9 ± 2.93 μmol/L in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively ( p