Table 2

Day 3 FSH levels and total antral follicle counts by frequency of moving heavy objects, level of physical exertion and typical work shift among 473 women in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study

Day 3 FSH levels, IU/LTotal antral follicle counts, n
Occupational characteristics (number of women)UnadjustedAdjusted*UnadjustedAdjusted*
Moving or lifting heavy objects
 Never (n=283)7.4 (7.0 to 7.7)7.4 (7.0 to 7.7)13.5 (13.1 to 14.0)13.4 (12.9 to 13.8)
 Sometimes/often (n=190)7.8 (7.3 to 8.2)7.8 (7.4 to 8.2)13.0 (12.5 to 13.5)12.7 (12.2 to 13.2)
p Value0.170.110.130.06
Level of physical exertion
 Light (n=368)7.5 (7.2 to 7.8)7.4 (7.1 to 7.7)13.2 (12.9 to 13.6)13.1 (12.7 to 13.5)
 Moderate/heavy (n=105)7.7 (7.1 to 8.3)7.9 (7.3 to 8.5)13.7 (13.0 to 14.4)13.1 (12.4 to 13.8)
p Value0.460.140.250.99
Typical work shift
 Day shift (n=431)7.5 (7.2 to 7.8)7.5 (7.2 to 7.8)13.3 (13.0 to 13.7)13.2 (12.8 to 13.5)
 Evening/night/rotating shift (n=42)7.7 (6.7 to, 8.6)7.8 (6.9 to 8.7)13.2 (12.1 to 14.3)12.5 (11.5 to 13.6)
p Value0.800.530.770.27
  • *Data are presented as predicted marginal means (95% CI) adjusted for age (continuous), BMI (continuous), education (less than college graduate, college graduate and graduate degree) and infertility diagnosis (male, female and unexplained).

  • BMI, Body Mass Index; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone.