Symptoms, Lifetime Duration of Estrogen Exposure, and Ovarian Reserve Among Women Living With HIV: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2024 May-Jun;35(3):264-280. doi: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000463. Epub 2024 Apr 3.

Abstract

This cross-sectional observational study examined associations among symptom burden, lifetime duration of estrogen exposure, and serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels among women living with HIV (n = 98) using bivariate bias-corrected Pearson correlations and multiple correspondence analyses. The mostly Black (85.6%) sample of women, with a mean age of 50 years (SD 12.6 years), exhibited no significant reproductive history factors and symptom burden interrelationships or significant associations between lifetime duration of estrogen exposure and symptoms. Predictably, serum AMH levels were lower among older women; however, less predictable were its significant relationships with months living with HIV (r = -0.362), months on ART (r = -0.270), and CD4+ T-cell nadir (r = 0.347). Symptom-symptom relationships support a fatigue, pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression symptom cluster. The hypotheses were not supported by cross-sectional observation. Further studies should explore variation in relationships between HIV, estrogen exposure, ovarian reserve, and AMH levels over time.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone* / blood
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Estrogens* / blood
  • Fatigue
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections* / psychology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovarian Reserve*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Mullerian Hormone
  • Estrogens