RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Occupational factors and markers of ovarian reserve and response among women at a fertility centre
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP oemed-2016-103953
DO 10.1136/oemed-2016-103953
A1 Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón
A1 Irene Souter
A1 Paige L Williams
A1 Jennifer B Ford
A1 Russ Hauser
A1 Jorge E Chavarro
A1 Audrey J Gaskins
YR 2017
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2017/01/04/oemed-2016-103953.abstract
AB Objectives To explore whether work schedules and physically demanding work were associated with markers of ovarian reserve and response.Methods This analysis included women (n=473 and n=313 for ovarian reserve and ovarian response analysis, respectively) enrolled in a prospective cohort study of couples presenting to an academic fertility centre (2004–2015). Information on occupational factors was collected on a take-home questionnaire, and reproductive outcomes were abstracted from electronic medical records. Generalised linear models and generalised linear mixed models were used to evaluate the associations.Results Women who reported lifting or moving heavy objects at work had 1.0 fewer total oocytes (p=0.08), 1.4 fewer mature oocytes (p=0.007) and 0.7 fewer antral follicles (p=0.06) compared with women who reported never lifting or moving heavy objects at work. The inverse association between heavy lifting and oocyte yield was stronger in women >37 years and with a Body Mass Index ≥25 kg/m2. Women who worked evening/night/rotating shifts had 2.3 (p<0.001) fewer mature oocytes, on average, compared with women who worked day-only shifts. None of the occupational exposures were associated with day 3 follicle-stimulating hormone or peak oestradiol levels.Conclusions Women working non-daytime shifts and those with physically demanding jobs had fewer mature oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Our results provide insight into possible mechanisms linking these occupational exposures with decreased fecundity.