TITLE:
Variation in Pituitary Hormones in Infertile Women in Douala, Cameroon. A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Francel Kold Foky, Jean Pierre Nda Mefo’o, Alvine Flore Tchahou Keumagna, Charlotte Tchente Nguefack, Henri Essome, Dieudonne Adiogo
KEYWORDS:
Infertile Women, Pituitary Hormones, Douala
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
27,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: According to the WHO, infertility is defined as the inability of a couple of reproductive age to achieve pregnancy after twelve months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Significant hormonal variation can be observed in infertile women. In low-income countries, conducting hormone tests on infertile women remains impractical due to the high cost involved, the aim of this study was to determine the variation in pituitary hormones in infertile women in Douala. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from November 2022 to November 2024 in hospitals and clinics in Douala among 145 infertile women aged between 18 and 44 years. FSH, LH and prolactin levels were measured using the sandwich ELISA method with DRG Diagnostic kits. The data were entered into Excel and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 with Chi2 and logistic regression tests. Results: 145 women were included. The mean age was 33.14 ± 6.6 years, with the majority between 30 and 35 years of age. The mean BMI was 27.86 ± 5.37 kg/m2, with 71.72% overweight. 61.38% had primary infertility. The average duration of infertility was 5.76 ± 4.67 years and 44% had irregular cycles. 8.28% had high FSH, 32.41% had high LH and 22.06% had abnormal prolactin levels. Age, irregular menstrual cycles, duration of infertility, and length of time in a relationship were statistically associated with variations in pituitary hormones. Conclusion: The FSH and LH levels are high in infertile women, while low and high prolactin levels are observed. Certain factors, including age, irregular menstrual cycles and the length of time spent in a relationship, are statistically linked to these hormonal variations. These findings highlight the need to routinely screen for pituitary hormones in infertile women as early as possible.