Implications of Serum Uric Acid for Female Fertility: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2020

Abstract

Abstract Background Reproductive health is a public health concern among young women. Due to nutritional composition and unhealthy lifestyle choices, the health effects of hyperuricemia on female fertility have come under scrutiny. We set out to investigate this relationship among adult female Americans. Methods In this cross-sectional investigation, the total sample of 5872 selected female participants aged 18 to 49 was identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2020. Each participant's serum uric acid levels (mg/dl) were measured, and the Reproductive Health Questionnaire was used to determine each subject's reproductive status. Logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between two variables in total subjects and subgroup analyses. The stratified multivariate logistic regression model was used to perform the subgroup analysis by serum uric acid levels. The subgroup analysis based on serum uric acid levels was carried out using the stratified multivariate logistic regression model. Results Among 5872 female adults included in this study, 649 (11.1%) had infertility, which had a higher mean of SUA levels (4.7mg/dl vs. 4.5mg/dl). In the initial and adjusted models, SUA levels were positively associated with infertility. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the odds of female infertility were significantly greater with increasing SUA levels (Q4 [≥ 5.2mg/dl] vs. Q1 [≤ 3.6mg/dl]), adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.59, p = 0.002]. The data suggests that there is a dose-response relationship between the two. Conclusion In this cross-sectional study, a sample of American women between the ages of 18 and 49 showed that SUA was positively related to infertility.