Fertility in Acromegaly: A Single-Center Experience of Female Patients During Active Disease and After Disease Remission

Abstract

Context: Fertility represents a major concern in patients with acromegaly.

Objective: The current retrospective study aimed to investigate gonadal function and fertility rates in acromegalic women.

Methods: In this referral-center study, 50 acromegalic women with disease onset within reproductive age were evaluated for prevalence of gonadal dysfunction and infertility. Anthropometric, metabolic, hormonal parameters, and gynecological ultrasound were evaluated at diagnosis and after disease control. Data about menstrual disturbances, pregnancy, and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) were investigated at disease onset, at diagnosis, and after disease control.

Results: At presumed disease onset, menstrual disturbances were reported in 32% of patients. Uterine leiomyoma, ovarian cysts, and PCOM were diagnosed in 18%, 12%, and 8%, respectively; 36.8% of patients were infertile. At diagnosis, menstrual disturbances were found in 58.1% (P = .02), being significantly more prevalent in patients with higher insulin-like growth factor-I quartiles (Q) (P = .03, Q1 vs Q4). Gynecological ultrasound revealed uterine leiomyoma, ovarian cysts, and PCOM in 39.1% (P = .04), 28.2% (P = .09), and 13% (P = .55), respectively. The infertility rate was 100% (P = .02). At disease control, menstrual disturbances were slightly decreased as compared to diagnosis (P = .09). Noteworthy, menstrual disturbances (P = .05) and particularly amenorrhea (P = .03) were significantly more frequent in patients with active disease duration greater than 5 years (median) as compared to those achieving disease control in less than 5 years. Among patients with pregnancy desire, 73.3% conceived at least once, with resulting infertility significantly decreased compared to diagnosis (26.7%; P = .01). At-term deliveries, preterm deliveries, and spontaneous abortions were recorded in 86.7%, 6.6%, and 6.6%, respectively, of the 15 pregnancies reported by the patients. No neonatal malformations and/or abnormalities were recorded.

Conclusion: Gonadal dysfunction and infertility are common in acromegalic women within reproductive age, being directly influenced by disease status and/or duration.

Keywords: acromegaly; fertility; menstrual disturbance; pregnancy; uterine leiomyoma.