Side effects of ovarian hyperstimulation: hormonal and lipid profile changes.

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian hyperstimulation is associated with a significant increase in ovarian steroid hormone production. Since such high levels of sex steroids may influence the activity of other endocrine glands, as well as affecting lipid metabolism, we studied the effect of ovarian hyperstimulation on the hormonal and lipid profile.

STUDY

DESIGN

In ten patients who were treated with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) for in vitro fertilization (IVF), the serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, insulin, cortisol, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and prolactin, as well as total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, and free fatty acids were monitored. These were correlated with estradiol and free and total testosterone levels.

RESULTS

Increased estradiol and free testosterone levels were associated with an increase in DHEA concentration. A correlation was found between increased estrogen level and decreased total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-C levels; HDL-C levels remained unchanged. There was a positive correlation between the estradiol levels and free fatty acid elevation.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian hyperstimulation induced changes in lipoprotein lipid content. However, the treated women faced no increase in cardiovascular risk, since their lipoprotein lipid levels were not affected.