Frequency of pelvic Endometriosis and Serum Prolactin Levels Among Infertile Women at a Tertiary Care Hospital - An Observational Study

Endometriosis and Prolactin in Infertility

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis, a common benign condition affecting 10–15% of women of reproductive age, is strongly associated with infertility. It is detected in 25–50% of infertile women and 12–32% of those with pelvic pain. Prolactin secretion from endometriotic implants may contribute to ovarian dysfunction and impaired fertility.

Objective: This study aims to determine the frequency of pelvic endometriosis in infertile patients and compare serum prolactin levels among infertile patients with and without endometriosis.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. One hundred and fifty female patients who met the inclusion criteria and presented with complaints of infertility to the outpatient clinic of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were included after informed consent. A 5 mL blood sample was sent to the laboratory for serum prolactin analysis. A consultant radiologist performed transvaginal ultrasound on all patients, for the confirmation of pelvic endometriosis. Mean prolactin levels in females with and without endometriosis were compared using Student's t-test (p< 0.05 was considered significant).

Results: The study found that 20.67% (n=31) of infertile female patients who presented to the tertiary care hospital's outpatient department had pelvic endometriosis. When the mean serum prolactin levels of infertile patients with and without endometriosis were compared, the prolactin levels in cases with endometriosis were 22.74±2.03 ng/mL, and in cases without endometriosis were 13.50±2.49 ng/mL, with a p value of 0.0001.

Conclusion: It is concluded that hyperprolactinemia does exist in infertile patients with endometriosis. However, further studies assessing prolactin concentrations across different stages of endometriosis are required to confirm this association.