Takeaway
- In women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in their 30s, more than one-third had elevated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) consistent with presence of PCOS.
- Abnormality in ovarian markers is common in this patient category and is not associated with irregular menses.
- Elevated AMH could explain reduced fecundity in women with T1DM apart from irregular menses.
Why this matters
- Women are at increased risk for infertility as they age, with risk more prominent in those with T1DM.
- Very few studies have examined if ovarian markers influence infertility in this patient category.
Study design
- Secondary analysis of 379 reproductive-age women (median age, 35 years) with T1DM.
- Funding: NIH.
Key results
- Irregular menses history was reported by 21% women, whereas 35% reported elevated AMH (≥26.70 pmol/L).
- 12.2% and 2.7% women reported testosterone levels >1.74 and ≥3.05 nmol/L, respectively.
- Younger age, lower insulin dosages (P=.0027) and higher testosterone concentrations were associated with higher AMH concentration.
- No association was observed between AMH or testosterone concentrations and irregular menses.
- Only age was associated with presence of at least 2 reproductive abnormalities with older age corresponding to lower odds (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80-0.94).
Limitations
- Difficulty with fertility and actual thyroid hormone levels not assessed.
References
References