The association between lipid profile and bone density in postmenopausal women

AIM

The aim of this research was to examine the correlation between lipid profile and bone density in postmenopausal and premenopausal women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This research covered 53 subjects who were in postmenopause and 30 subjects who had regular menstruation, older than 45.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The postmenopausal subjects have lower bone density of the lumbar spine, if triglyceride levels were higher (p = 0.030) and VLDL is higher (p = 0.032). In subjects with regular menstruation, the density of the neck of the femur was greater if the cholesterol values were higher (p = 0.002) and the density of the lumbar spine was greater where the levels of triglycerides (p = 0.002) and of ApoB (p = 0.026) were higher. In subjects in postmenopause there was a correlation between the density of the lumbar spine (p = 0.04) and the density of the neck of the femur (p = 0.008) with the length of menopause. The effect of lipid profile on bone density differs in women with regular menstruation and in postmenopausal women. The triglyceride levels in postmenopausal women contribute to a reduction in bone density, whilst the effect on bone density in women with regular menstruation is reversed, which indicates that the lipid profile is not an isolated factor affecting bone density, but that other factors, such as oestrogen levels and the length of post-menopause, have a significant effect on bone density.

How to make assisted reproductive technologies (ART) affordable in Bosnia and Herzegovina: experience after the first 105 cycles

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the results after the first 105 cycles in private IVF centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of one hundred and five infertile couples who underwent IVF procedures.

RESULTS

The mean age of women who underwent IVF/ ICSI was 34.1 +/- 5.1. The male factor was the cause of infertility in 50 (47.6%), tubal factor in 24 (22.2%), idiopathic infertility in 14 (13.3%), advanced age in 14 (13.3%) and PCOS in 4 (3.8%) infertile couples. The average number of retrieved oocyte was 7.84 +/- 5.30. In 96.2% cycles ICSI was performed and in 3.8% IVF/ICSI. The average number of transferred embryos per cycle was 2.49 +/- 0.9. The pregnancy rate per aspiration was 26.7%. The clinical pregnancy rate per transfer was 26.3%. The percentage of live births per transfer to date was 13.1% and 7 of them are still pregnant. In the entire group of pregnant women 40% had twin pregnancies, 1 of them had an ectopic pregnancy (1.01%) and 4 (4.04%) had spontaneous abortions.

CONCLUSIONS

The pregnancy and delivery rates are not satisfactory. The twin pregnancy rate is higher than is acceptable. Low-cost hormonal stimulation, natural cycles and freezing of embryos could be a possible way to make IVF affordable to a larger number of infertile couples.