Leptin concentrations in sera and follicular fluids may be predictive of IVF outcomes

Abstract This study is to determine leptin concentrations in sera and follicular fluids in pregnant and non-pregnant women undergoing IVF. Sera and follicular fluids were collected from 39 women undergoing IVF and 12 healthy women undergoing tubal ligation. Leptin concentrations in sera and follicular fluids of IVF women were higher than those of normal women. Compared with non-pregnant IVF women, pregnant IVF women had lower leptin levels in the sera and follicular fluids at the time of oocyte retrieval. Leptin concentrations in follicular fluids of normal women and women undergoing IVF positively correlated with those in sera. The results of the present study suggested that leptin concentrations in sera and follicular fluids at the time of oocyte retrieval might be predictive of IVF outcomes.