Pattern of Hormonal Imbalance among Women of Child-bearing Age in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre in Southern Nigeria

E.L. Ekpe, K.C. Osuji and C.M. Ejikem Eke

Background and Objectives: Infertility is a common social problem among women and it is linked to many etiologies. This study was done to assess the pattern of hormonal imbalance among infertile women of child-bearing age attending a tertiary health facility in Calabar, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 119 women with infertility were assessed for quantitative fertility hormone values to determine if hormonal imbalance was implicated in the cause of infertility in them and the pattern of hormonal abnormality/imbalance they have. Results: The study involved a total of 119 female adults of child-bearing age, whose ages ranged between 20 and 49 years with an average age of 31.95+6.87 years. Women aged between 25-29 years had the highest prevalence of infertility due to hormonal imbalance. Of the 119 women the distribution with hormonal imbalance caused infertility was 96.6%. Reduced luteinizing hormone levels accounted for the highest pattern of infertility (71.6%), while prolactin excess was next (42.9%). Low levels of day 21-progesterone/luteal phase insufficiency accounted for the highest singular hormonal causative factor in women aged 40-44 years. However, there was no significant difference in the ages of the women and the progesterone values as a criterion in determining the cause of infertility (p<0.305), same applied to prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that hormonal imbalance is a major cause of infertility among women and that the pattern of imbalance varies widely. Reduced luteinizing hormone levels with consequent anovulation was the commonest presentation in the population studied.

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