LEVELS OF TESTOSTERONE, FEMALE SEX HORMONES AND SOME TRACE ELEMENTS IN WOMEN WITH UTERINE FIBROIDS

Previous studies indicate that uterine fibroid is associated with estrogen and other female reproductive hormones and abnormal cell proliferation. This study is aimed at determining hormones of the pituitary/gonadal axis and some trace elements in women with uterine fibroids. The study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. A total of fifty (50) subjects were recruited for the study, their blood samples were collected and used for the laboratory diagnosis of testosterone, oestrogen, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and trace elements. All reagents used were commercially prepared and procured and the manufacturer’s standard operating procedures were strictly followed. All data generated from this study were subjected to statistical analysis, mean, Standard deviations, student’s t-Test, and were determined using SPSS Statistical package software for windows version 21. Results shows that serum estrogen concentration (307.71 + 71.73 mIU/L) and Testosterone concentration (3.90+ 1.08 ng/ml) was significantly higher in uterine fibroid when compared with the serum concentrations of Oestrogen (173.67+ 33.98 mIU /L) and testosterone (1.26+ 0.39 ng/ml) in control subjects at p=0.002 and p=0.000 respectively. The mean value of serum FSH (4.45+ 0.72 IU/ml) and LH (3.15+ 0.84 IU/ml) was significantly lower in uterine fibroid when compared with the mean value of serum FSH (10.69+ 2.64 IU/ml) and LH (6.10+ 0.79 IU/ml) in control subjects at p=0.000 and p=0.000 respectively. The mean value of serum copper (5.99+ 0.62 ?g/dl) and zinc (7.86+ 0.76?mol /L) was significantly lower in uterine fibroid when compared with the mean value of copper (8.56+ 1.19 ?g/dl) and Zinc (9.25+ 0.83 ?mol /L) in control subjects at p=0.000 and p=0.004 respectively. There is an alteration in the level of testosterone, estrogen, FSH, LH and trace element in women with uterine fibroid. In conclusion, increased circulating levels of testosterone with estradiol in women of child bearing age can be a higher risk factors in the development of uterine fibroid.