Blood Type Could Affect Female Fertility

Those with blood type A "significantly less likely" to have FSH levels over 10 compared to those with blood type O.

Blood type can affect a woman's chances of becoming pregnant, according to the results found by scientists.
Those with blood type O may have to struggle to get pregnant because of the amount and quality of eggs were lower, while those with blood type A seems to be more fertile.

More than 560 women with an average age of 35, who were undergoing fertility treatment, took part in the study led by researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and Yale University.
Blood samples were taken to measure levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), a marker of fertility of the womb.

FSH levels are more than 10 shows a pregnant woman will have difficulty than those with levels below 10.
High FSH levels are indicative of reduced ovarian reserve, which refers to the quality of the eggs and the number of eggs available for fertilization.

Ovarian reserve tends to decrease significantly when a woman reaches the age of the mid to late 30's, and even faster in the early 40s.

This study showed that women with blood type O were twice as likely to have FSH levels over 10 compared with the other blood group. The result remains the same even when the woman's age into account and also the fact that she came from two different clinics.

Meanwhile, those with blood type A "significantly less likely" to have FSH levels over 10 compared to those with blood type O.

People with blood type A has antigen A, which is a protein on the cell surface, but the content is not found in people who are Type O.

Dr. Edward Nejat, from the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Albert Einstein College, presented these findings at the conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Denver.
He said, "In both groups of women who seek fertility treatment, those with blood type O were twice as likely to have FSH levels over 10 compared with other blood group O.

"We found that women with A and AB - women with blood group A gene - have been protected from the influence of reduced ovarian reserve.

"The population we studied, and the fact that there are two different medical clinics and there is a good mix of patients from various ethnicities and races, we can say that the blood group O was associated with FSH levels greater than 10 in women seeking infertility evaluation and / or treatment.

"Patients with blood type O, which is seeking infertility evaluation at a health clinic, have a higher likelihood to be diagnosed with FSH, and the results obtained is the fact the lack of ovarian reserve."
Nejat said FSH level is just one marker of fertility and further studies are still needed. "The age of a woman remains the most important factor in determining pregnancy success.
"Base FSH gives us an idea of ​​the quality and quantity of women's eggs."

Tony Rutherford, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said, "This is the first time I realized that the researchers have shown an association between blood groups and fertility potential."
However, he said, there are other hormones that can also predict decreased ovarian reserve, which is also important to use.

"This is interesting and suggests a potential relationship, but we really have to see it another way, more to the ovarian reserve testing calendar."

Rutherford said that larger studies need to be done in the general population to see if blood group is causing problems for women trying to conceive.

"We need to see groups of women prospectively to examine whether this blood type does affect your chances of getting pregnant," she said. "This requires further exploration."

Source: guardian.co.uk