Publication:

Serum and follicular fluid concentration of stem cell factor in PCOS

Background Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, which affects 5 to 20% of women in the reproductive age worldwide. This study aimed to compare the levels of SCF in serum and follicular fluid of PCOS patients with those of non-PCOS group and to investigate the relationship of SCF levels with ICSI success.

Methods This is an observational case control study that included the patients who underwent ICSI in the Infertility-IVF center at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine and in a private IVF center between March 2016 and February 2017. The study group consisted of 57 PCOS patients diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria and the control group consisted of 75 patients with normofollicular and regular menstrual cycles. Serum and follicular fluid samples were taken on day of oocyte retrieval. Serum and follicular fluid SCF levels were determined by ELISA using the SCF ELISA kit..

Results Serum and follicular fluid SCF levels in PCOS patients were found to be lower than in non-PCOS group. sSCF and ffSCF were statistically significantly higher who had clinical pregnancy than those who had no clinical pregnancy in the PCOS group.

Conclusions SCF levels are low in serum and follicular fluid in patients with PCOS and that the increase in SCF levels is associated with an increase in oocyte maturation and clinical pregnancy rates in PCOS.