Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn Genotype Does Not Affect the Follicular Fluid Hormonal Profile in Stimulated Cycles Using Different Gonadotropin Preparations for Ovulation Induction: A Pilot Study

TL;DR

This pilot study found no link between a specific hormone receptor gene variant and IVF outcomes like embryo quality or pregnancy rates.

Contribution

The study is the first to show that FSHR Ser680Asn genotype does not influence follicular fluid hormone profiles or IVF success in stimulated cycles.

Findings

No differences in follicular fluid hormone levels were found among FSHR genotypes.

Oocyte maturation rates and embryo quality were not affected by FSHR Ser680Asn genotype.

Pregnancy rates were not correlated with the FSHR Ser680Asn genotypes.

Abstract

Background: The existing literature lacks consensus on the effectiveness of utilizing polymorphisms to enhance outcomes in in vitro fertilization (IVF), particularly regarding ovulation induction protocols, oocyte and embryo quality, and pregnancy rates. Therefore, the present pilot study aims to assess whether the composition of different gonadotropin preparations affects the ovarian stimulation protocol concerning follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn genotypes (Ser/Ser, Ser/Asn, and Asn/Asn), in terms of ovulation induction parameters, including oocyte maturation rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate.

Methodology: A total of 94 IVF patients underwent treatment using a GnRH antagonist protocol with four distinct gonadotropin preparations: HMG, HMG/hCG, rFSH, and rFSH/hCG. Follicular fluid (FF) samples were pooled for each patient for analysis.

Results: No statistical differences in the FF hormonal profile (progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, FSH, hCG) among the FSHR genotypes were reported either separately for each protocol or in combination for the four different preparations of gonadotropins. The maturation rate of MII oocytes and embryo quality did not differ among women carrying either Ser/Ser, Ser/Asn, or Asn/Asn genotype (p-value=0.475, and p-value=1.000, respectively). Moreover, no statistically significant correlation was revealed among Ser/Ser, Ser/Asn, and Asn/Asn carriers and pregnancy rate (p = 0.588).

Conclusions: FF hormonal analysis of women undergoing IVF using different ovulation induction protocols and carrying either Ser/Ser, Ser/Asn, or Asn/Asn genotype revealed no significant correlations, in terms of maturation rate of MII oocytes, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate, indicating that the FSHR Ser680Asn genotype does not constitute a biomarker for a positive pregnancy outcome. Therefore, the existence of a different mechanism for the expression of FSHR Ser680Asn genotypes in the FF hormonal profile related to stimulated cycles is implied.