Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: January | Volume: 12 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 78-86
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220111
Effect of 3 Months Exercise on Ovarian Reserve and Ovulatory Status of Premenopausal Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus
Njoku CM1, Meludu SC2, Dioka CE1, Umunnah JO3, Onyegbule OA1, Olisah MC4, Bamigbowu EO5
1Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
2Department of Human Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
3Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
4Department of Medical Biochemistry, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Nigeria.
5Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: Njoku CM
ABSTRACT
There is a traditional believe that if premenopausal women engage in prolonged physical exercise, they are likely to have infertility. This study assessed the effect of prolonged moderate – vigorous exercise on ovarian reserve and ovulatory status in premenopausal students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus. The objectives were to determine the effect of moderate – vigorous intensity exercise on Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), day 3 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), day 3 Estrogen, day 21 Estrogen, and day 21 Progesterone levels in premenopausal women. This was a prospective comparative study involving 80 participants aged between 19 and 25 years, randomly selected and assigned to exercise group and control group. The exercise group comprised 40 participants who engaged in moderate – vigorous intensity exercise using elliptical bike for 30 minutes, five days a week for 3 months; however, 30 individuals completed the exercise. The control group comprised of 40 individuals that did not do exercise but 30 individuals completed the study. Blood (8ml) was collected from each of the participants at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. AMH, FSH, LH, Estrogen and Progesterone levels were analyzed using enzyme- linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results were regarded as significant at p˂ 0.05. In the exercise group, the serum level of day 3 FSH, LH, Estrogen were significantly lower from 7.27±0.77 mIU/ml, 7.00±0.77 mIU/ml, 36.33±5.13 pg/ml respectively at baseline to 5.62±0.48 mIU/ml, 5.36±0.80 mIU/ml, 21.36±4.34 pg/ml respectively after 3 months of exercise while there was significantly higher levels of AMH and day 21 progesterone after 3 months of exercise compared with the baseline and respective control (p<0.05). Prolonged Moderate-to-vigorous exercise may enhance fertility and well-being of premenopausal women.
Key words: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), day 3 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), day 3 Estrogen, day 21 Estrogen, day 21 Progesterone, moderate – vigorous exercise, ovarian reserve, ovulatory status, premenopausal women.