Endocrine infertility

Anovulatory (endocrine) infertility is a disorder of a woman's reproductive function caused by the absence of normal folliculogenesis in the ovaries and ovulation.

Anovulation is not a disease, but a symptom that is expressed by various clinical manifestations, from luteal insufficiency to oligomenorrhea.

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Epidemiology

The frequency of pathology is 30–40% among all forms of female infertility.

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Forms

The following forms of endocrine infertility are distinguished:

• gonadotropic insufficiency;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• ovarian failure;
• hyperprolactinemia;
• hypothyroidism.

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Complications and consequences

Complications of anovulation include:

• Endometrial hyperplasia.
• Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Venous thromboembolism.
• Electrolyte disturbances.
• Arrhythmias.

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Diagnostics endocrine infertility

Anovulatory infertility is characterized by polymorphism of clinical and laboratory manifestations, but there is one sign that unites all forms of endocrine infertility - anovulation.

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Treatment endocrine infertility

The goal of treatment is to ensure the ovulation process and the onset of pregnancy. The tactics of therapy depend on the form of endocrine infertility; various hormonal and non-hormonal drugs are used, with some of them used at the preparatory stages of treatment, others - directly in the process of ovulation induction.