Role of Some Cytokines Among Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Background: Infertility is the incapacity to fulfill pregnancy after an appropriate time of sexual intercourse with no contraceptive measures taken. Ovulation disorders are one of the female factors that cause infertility, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and poor ovarian reserve (POR). Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the association between some immunological markers interleukins (IL-5, IL-12, and IL-18) and infertility causes (male factor, PCOS, and POR) of infertile patients in Iraqi women undergoing Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included three groups male factor ( n = 40), PCOS ( n = 30), and POR ( n = 30). The samples of serum and follicular fluid were collected on oocyte retrieval day and detected levels of IL-5, IL-12, and IL-18 by ELISA technique. Results: The serum and follicular fluid levels of IL-12 in the male factor were significantly different from PCOS and POR patients ( P = 0.005). Also, about the mean of transferred embryos in non-pregnant women; there was a significant difference between Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropins ( β . HCG) groups with ( P = 0.013). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the level of IL-18 in the serum and follicular fluid between pregnant and non pregnant women regarding Beta- Human Chorionic Gonadotropins ( β HCG) hormone. In addition, the follicular fluid and serum levels of IL- 18 were significantly difference between β . HCG groups with ( P = 0.005). Conclusion: The results have shown a non-significant difference between groups regarding cytokines levels except elevated IL-12 levels in follicular fluid and serum for male factor patients compared with PCOS and POR patients. Therefore, these markers might have no important role in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.