Evaluation of serum Cortisol Level in Infertile Women

Abstract

Cortisol hormone  is a glucocorticoid  hormone  produced  in the zona fasciculata  of adrenal  cortex,  its  secretion   is  regulated  via  HPA  axis.  The  study  was  planned  to determine  serum cortisol  level  in infertile women  attending  family planning  clinic  in Azady Teaching  Hospital  in Kirkuk  governorate.  This case control  study done on 60 infertile women  and 30 fertile women  in the same age range, the infertile women  were divided  in to two  subgroups  according  their  BMI.  Sample  collection  was  done  by obtaining  four ml of blood  at  9 AM  in the preovulatary  phase  from all study groups, serum  cortisol  were  measured  by  using  ELISA  technique.  The  results  of this  study showed  that  serum  cortisol  level  in infertile  women  were  significantly  higher  than fertile women,  also its concentration  in obese infertile women was significantly  higher than lean infertile women  furthermore,  serum cortisol  level was significantly  higher in infertile  lean women  in comparison  to fertile non obese  women.  on conclusion  both stress and obesity may have a role in elevation  of cortisol hormone  in infertile women.