Changes of endocrine and ultrasound markers as ovarian aging in modifying the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) staging system with subclassification of mid reproductive age stage

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the changes of ovarian aging markers across the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) stages and modify it with subclassification of mid reproductive age stage (MR). Design: Healthy females were classified according to the STRAW system. Serum basal FSH, LH, E2, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected, FSH/LH ratio calculated, and antral follicle counts (AFCs) determined in follicular phase. Results: Progression through the whole STRAW stages under MR stage subdivided is associated with elevations in FSH, LH, FSH/LH ratio and decreases in E2, AMH and AFCs (p < 0.001). Both serum AMH and AFCs decreased early (after 25 years) and significantly (p < 0.01) with chronological age in MR stage. 0.982 ng/ml AMH and 3 antral follicles (low level of MR 25–30 years) were set as cutoffs to distinguish MR stage into early mid reproductive age (EMR) and late mid reproductive age (LMR) stages. The women in EMR stage compared with LMR could retrieve more oocytes in IVF treatment (p < 0.05) and has a higher pregnancy chance (57.9%) though not significant. Conclusion(s): The early and marked fall in serum AMH levels and AFCs suggest fine markers to further categorize and define the MR stage, demonstrating disparate reproductive aging period with reduced ovarian reserve in young age across the STRAW stages.

Keywords::

• STRAW stages
• ovarian aging
• mid reproductive age stage
• anti-Müllerian hormone
• antral follicle counts

Declaration of Interest: The present research program was supported by grants from the Research Fund for Public Service Section of National Healthy Ministry of China (No. 200802159), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30973148). None of the authors have any conflict of interest to declare.