Early-life factors and adult anti-Müllerian hormone levels

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to examine whether early-life factors are associated with adult ovarian reserve, measured by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels.

Methods: The work is based on the Jerusalem Perinatal Study (JPS), an extensive birth cohort with detailed information on all pregnancies and deliveries in Jerusalem between 1974 and 1976. A subset of individuals participated in a follow-up study that took place between 2007 and 2009 in which they completed questionnaires and were physically examined at mean age of 32. A blood sample was additionally drawn from each participant, and AMH was measured in a sample of 239 women. The associations between each early-life factors, including birth weight, maternal pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain (GWG), socioeconomic position at birth, and parental smoking during pregnancy, were assessed with AMH levels at the age of 32.Multivariable regression models were used to examine the associations with AMH, adjusting for potential confounders at birth and at the age of 32.

Results: Low birth weight was significantly associated with lower ovarian reserve reflected by lower levels of AMH at age 32 (range 30-36), independent of other early-life factors and after adjusting for confounders (β = 0.180, p = 0.03).

Conclusions: This prospective study demonstrates the association of birth weight and adult ovarian reserve. Underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully understood.

Keywords: Anti-Müllerian hormone; Birth weight; Early-life factors; Ovarian reserve.