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. 2022 May 14;19(10):5981.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19105981.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels among Female Firefighters

Samantha Davidson  1 , Sara Jahnke  2 , Alesia M Jung  1   3 , Jefferey L Burgess  3   4 , Elizabeth T Jacobs  1   4 , Dean Billheimer  1 , Leslie V Farland  1   4   5
Affiliations

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels among Female Firefighters

Samantha Davidson et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Female firefighters have occupational exposures which may negatively impact their reproductive health. Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is a clinical marker of ovarian reserve. We investigated whether AMH levels differed in female firefighters compared to non-firefighters and whether there was a dose-dependent relationship between years of firefighting and AMH levels. Female firefighters from a pre-existing cohort completed a cross-sectional survey regarding their occupational and health history and were asked to recruit a non-firefighter friend or relative. All participants provided a dried blood spot (DBS) for AMH analysis. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between firefighting status and AMH levels. Among firefighters, the influence of firefighting-related exposures was evaluated. Firefighters (n = 106) and non-firefighters (n = 58) had similar age and BMI. Firefighters had a lower mean AMH compared to non-firefighters (2.93 ng/mL vs. 4.37 ng/mL). In multivariable adjusted models, firefighters had a 33% lower AMH value than non-firefighters (-33.38%∆ (95% CI: -54.97, -1.43)). Years of firefighting was not associated with a decrease in AMH. Firefighters in this study had lower AMH levels than non-firefighters. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which firefighting could reduce AMH and affect fertility.

Keywords: anti-müllerian hormone; firefighter health; occupational exposures; reproductive health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant flow diagram. Totals excluded do not sum to sub-categories, as some participants met multiple exclusion criteria.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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