Abstract

Introduction

The importance of the C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in infertile women remains controversial.

Objective

To evaluate if the MTHFR C677T mutations are more frequent in infertile women, and if they can be associated with the occurrence of infertility in the Brazilian population.

Methods

This case-control study included 130 infertile women consulting at a private clinic betweenMarch 2003 andMarch 2005 (data previously published), and 260 fertile women attending the family planning outpatient clinic of our institution between April 2012 and March 2013.

Data analysis

The Chi-squared and Fisher Exact tests were used to evaluate the association between the presence of the MTHFR C677T mutation and a history of infertility.

Results

The frequency of the mutation was of 58.5% for the case group (n = 76) and of 49.2% for the fertile controls (n = 128). The mutation was homozygous in 13 women in the case group (10%) and in 23 of the fertile women in the control group (8.8%). These differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the presence of the MTHFR C677T mutation does not constitute a risk factor for infertility, even when themutation is homozygous. Further studies are needed to confirm whether research on this mutation should be considered unnecessary in women with infertility.

Keywords:
infertility; thrombophilia; MTHFR C677T mutation