Objective: To study the possible relation between human natural fertility a
nd haptoglobin (Hp) genotype.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Maternity departments of local hospitals in two Italian localities
.
Patient(s): Healthy women who had just given birth in the maternity departm
ents of two local hospitals (n = 679).
Intervention(s): Venous blood collection for determination of Hp genotype w
ith the use of starch gel electrophoresis of hemoglobin-supplemented serum.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Distribution of Hp genotypes in relation to age of
puerperae.
Result(s): In both populations, the proportion of young mothers was much hi
gher among women who were homozygous for the Hp*1 allele (the Hp*1/*1 genot
ype) than among women who had other Hp genotypes. In addition, the proporti
on of multiparous women among the older mothers was higher among those with
the Hp*1/*1 genotype than among those with other Hp genotypes.
Conclusion(s): The data suggest that women with the Hp*1/*1 genotype reprod
uce at an earlier age and have higher natural fertility potential than wome
n with other Hp genotypes. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Me
dicine.