The Role of Reproductive Hormones on Fertility with Beta-Thalassemia

Muhammad O. Al-Muhammadi, Bushra J. Al-Rubaie, Mais A. Al-Turaihi

Abstract: thalassemia major is a common genetic blood disorder which is the most severe form of thalassemia, and an inherited disease resulting from homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for beta thalassemia with severe reduction or total absence of beta globin chains. Blood transfusions are mandatory for survival of beta thalassemia major patients which leads to iron overload, subsequent tissue damage and oxidative stress. Failure of pubertal growth, delay or absence of sexual development, amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction and infertility due to hypogonadism are well-recognized disturbances of the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis in -thal patients.

Keywords: Beta thalassemia major, serum iron, reproductive hormones