Variability of essential and non-essential trace elements in the follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

ABSTRACT: Both essential and non-essential elements have been associated with female reproductive function in epidemiologic investigations, including among IVF populations. To date, most investigators have used blood or urine to assess biomarkers of exposure, with few employing ovarian follicular fluid (FF). FF may offer a more direct "snapshot" of the oocyte microenvironment than blood or urine, however previous studies report follicle-to-follicle variability in FF constituents that may contribute to exposure misclassification. Our objectives were to investigate sources of trace element variability, to estimate FF biomarker reliability among women undergoing IVF (n = 34), and to determine the minimum number of follicles required to estimate subject-specific mean concentrations. We measured As, Hg,

SUBMITTER: Butts CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7845532 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature