Serum Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Concentration as a Predictor of Ovarian Response During Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation

Junyu Zhai; Shang Li; Yinci Zhu; Yun Sun; Zi-Jiang Chen; Yanzhi Du

doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.719818

Serum Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Concentration as a Predictor of Ovarian Response During Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation

Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Nov 4:8:719818. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.719818. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Junyu Zhai^{1

2}, Shang Li^{1

2}, Yinci Zhu^{1

2}, Yun Sun^{1

2}, Zi-Jiang Chen^{1

2

3

4

5}, Yanzhi Du^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
² Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.
³ Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
⁴ National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Abstract

Purpose: Serum concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a glycated homodimeric plasma transport protein, correlate positively with the total number of follicles in women with infertility. However, the relationship between serum SHBG concentrations and the ovarian response during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and whether this relationship differs between women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains unclear. Methods: The study cohort included 120 participants (60 non-PCOS and 60 PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization. Serum samples were collected from each participant every 2-3 days during the COH cycle. The concentrations of serum SHBG and other sex hormones were determined to investigate the relationship between serum SHBG concentrations and the ovarian response in women with and without PCOS. Results: We found that the serum SHBG concentration was positively correlated with the ovarian response in non-PCOS patients but not in PCOS patients. Conclusion: The serum SHBG concentration may be clinically useful as a predictor of the ovarian response during COH in patients without PCOS.

Keywords: SHBG; controlled ovarian hyperstimulation; in vitro fertilization; ovarian response; polycystic ovary syndrome.