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High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is not independently associated with self-reported infertility in National Health

Rasha A Al-Lami1, Shaden A Taha2, Randa J Jalloul1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.

F&S Reports
|April 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) showed no association with infertility in reproductive-age women. This finding held true even after accounting for obesity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Previous research suggests a link between infertility and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker for CVDs, and its levels can be influenced by obesity.
  • Understanding the relationship between inflammation markers like hs-CRP and infertility is crucial for reproductive-age women.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and infertility in reproductive-age women.
  • To control for the influence of obesity and other metabolic markers on this association.
  • To clarify the role of inflammation in female infertility.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study utilizing national data from 2015-2018.
  • Inclusion of 940 women aged 20-45 years reporting infertility, with measured hs-CRP levels.
  • Exclusion of participants with elevated CRP, specific medical conditions, or those who were pregnant, breastfeeding, or premenopausal.

Main Results:

  • Women reporting infertility exhibited higher mean hs-CRP levels (3.11 mg/L vs. 2.40 mg/L) and a greater prevalence of moderate/high hs-CRP (77.0% vs. 58.8%) compared to noninfertile women.
  • Multivariable logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for metabolic markers, revealed a nonsignificant association between moderate/high hs-CRP and self-reported infertility.
  • Excluding obesity measures and/or high-density lipoprotein from regression models increased the odds ratio estimates for the hs-CRP and infertility association by over 40%.

Conclusions:

  • No significant association was found between hs-CRP and self-reported infertility in U.S. women aged 20-45 years.
  • The association became nonsignificant after controlling for obesity measures and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.
  • Inflammation, as indicated by hs-CRP, may not be a primary independent risk factor for infertility in this population when considering metabolic health.
Abstract

Keywords:
CRPcardiovascular diseaseinfertilityobesity

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