BACKGROUND

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial element. Recently it is suspected that BPA may disrupt the endocrine system to influence the manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess serum BPA level and its association with manifestations of PCOS in women.

METHODOLOGY

This cross-sectional study included 40 young adults with PCOS and 38 age-matched control women [23.0 (20.0, 29.0) vs. 25.0 (21.0, 29.0), years, median (IQR), = 0.406]. After a thorough clinical examination, fasting blood was collected in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle to measure glucose, lipids, insulin, luteinizing hormone, folliclestimulating hormone, total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and BPA. Glucose was measured by glucose oxidase, lipids by glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase-peroxidase, all hormones including SHBG by chemiluminescent immunoassay and BPA by sandwiched enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Insulin resistance was measured using homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance.

RESULT

Women with PCOS had significantly higher BPA levels (ng/mL) than the control group [27.30 (25.60, 33.40) vs. 24.0 (15.58, 28.70), median (IQR), = 0.001]. Using the 75 percentile value of the control group, 15 (37.5%) women with PCOS had high BPA levels. Those with high BPA levels had a significantly higher frequency of menstrual regulation / abortion among women with PCOS [53.8% vs. 0%, = 0.005]. Women with PCOS with a history of menstrual regulation / abortion [36.7 ± 4.9 vs. 28.5 ± 6.4, mean ± SD, = 0.004] and subfertility [34.3 ± 6.8 vs. 28.5 ± 6.4, mean ± SD, = 0.031] had higher levels of BPA than those without the histories. Serum BPA had no significant association or correlation with any androgenic and metabolic manifestations.

CONCLUSION

Raised BPA level may be associated with adverse reproductive features in PCOS.