Abstract
Introduction
Unexplained infertility represents one of the most common diagnoses in fertility care.
Attention is being paid to the association between inherited thrombophilia and infertility
causes. In this study we investigated the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia according
to infertility causes.
Materials and methods
We studied Prothrombin gene G20210A mutation, Factor V Leiden, deficiencies in protein
S and C and antithrombin in 930 Caucasian infertile women referred to Fertility Center
of the Department of Sciences for Woman and Child's Health, University of Florence,
of whom 230 with unexplained, 195 female and 283 male infertility, and in 240 women
who have conceived naturally without hormonal stimulation therapy.
Results
A significant relationship between inherited thrombophilia [OR 95%CI 1.97 (1.05-3.68),
p=0.03] and unexplained infertility was observed, whereas no association between thrombophilia
and female and male infertility was found. Significantly higher prevalence of prothrombin
gene mutation in unexplained infertile women in comparison to that observed in fertile
women was observed (5.7% vs 2.1% p=0.04); the prevalence of the other thrombophilia determinants was higher, even if
not significantly, in the unexplained infertile group.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the relationship between inherited thrombophilia and unexplained
infertility, thus suggesting the contribution of genetic components in modulating
unexplained infertility, behind anovulation, male and tubal factor.
Abbreviations:
PC (protein C), PS (protein S), AT (antithrombin), FVL (Factor V Leiden), PT (prothrombin gene)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 16, 2012
Accepted:
February 19,
2012
Received in revised form:
February 10,
2012
Received:
November 14,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
