Female infertility, infertility-associated diagnoses, and comorbidities: a review

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study is to evaluate existing literature for possible associations between female infertility, infertility-associated diagnoses, and the following areas of disease: psychiatric disorders, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. Methods The design of the study is a literature review. The patients were women included in 26 selected studies due to a diagnosis of infertility or a reproductive disorder associated with infertility. This study has no interventions, and the main outcome measure is the association between female infertility or a related diagnosis and psychiatric disorders, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. Results Female infertility and related reproductive disorders may have ramifications for women beyond reproductive health. An analysis of publications shows that women with infertility had higher rates of psychiatric disorders and endometrial cancer than the general population [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Data is conflicting about whether infertile women are at increased risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer [7,8,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. A generalized diagnosis of infertility was not clearly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease or metabolic dysfunction, but women with infertility related to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) do appear more likely to develop cardioCapsule There is a growing body of literature addressing the impact of female infertility on long-term health. This review evaluates 26 studies, investigating possible correlations between infertility and psychiatric illness, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. Overall, higher rates of psychiatric illness and endometrial cancer were seen in infertile women. It is unclear whether infertility results in increased rates of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and data are conflicting regarding correlations between generalized infertility and cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction. This study summarizes current literature and can guide practitioners in counseling infertile patients.

Epidemiology of infertility in China: a population‐based study

“…Reproductive factors associated with infertility in our study included regularity of menstrual cycle, menstrual blood volume, previous stillbirth and miscarriage, history of cervicitis and endometriosis, pelvic or abdominal surgery, and surgery of ovary or fallopian tube. The mechanisms underlying the observed associations were well established, including distorted pelvic anatomy, altered peritoneal function, altered hormonal function, endocrine and ovulatory abnormalities and genital infection . In brief, infertility is a complex medical condition that in which many factors play a part.…”

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the inability to conceive after 1 year (or longer) of unprotected intercourse [1]. Its prevalence has increased by 50% since the past decade, with rates ranging from 9 to 18% in different parts of the world [2]. A systematic analysis of infertility incidence revealed that 1.9% of women experience primary infertility and 10.5% suffer from secondary infertility [3].…”

Exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone affects genome‐wide DNA methylation and transcriptome of corpus luteum in sows

“…In the world, ;5-10% of women at the reproductive age face some kind of infertility problem. Ovarian disorders are responsible for more than half of female infertility (1,2). Ovarian disorders include major reproductive diseases in human such as polycystic ovary syndrome (3) and ovulation with luteal insufficiency (4).…”