%0 Journal Article
%T Beta-HCG Levels and Ovarian Ultrasonography Results among Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
%A Celine C. Agonsi
%A Francis Anacletus
%A Joel Aluko
%A Chinemerem Eleke
%A Joy C. Samuel
%J Journal of Biosciences and Medicines
%P 233-241
%@ 2327-509X
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jbm.2024.125018
%X <b>Background: </b>Certain ovarian cancers that were previously common in postmenopausal women are now increasingly observed in women of reproductive age. The research on using <i>β</i>-HCG as a diagnostic biomarker for ovarian cancer in women of reproductive age is ongoing. <b>Aim: </b>This study assessed the level of serum <i>β</i>-HCG in non-pregnant women of reproductive age and determined its potential association with suspicious ovarian ultrasonography results. <b>M</b><b>e</b><b>t</b><b>hods: </b>The study was conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This study adopted a cross-sectional design on a quota sample of 224 case notes of women aged 18 - 40 years obtained from eight diagnostic centres. A data extraction form was used for data collection. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Odds Ratio at 95% confidence and 5% significance levels. <b>Results</b>: About 5.8% of the participants exhibited detectable levels of serum <i>β</i>-HCG above 5 IU/L (World Health Organization reference) at a mean concentration of 5.87 (±1.75) IU/L. About 4.0% of the participants had suspicious ovarian lesions identified through ultrasonography. Participants with elevated serum <i>β</i>-HCG levels above the WHO reference were 59 times more likely to have suspicious ovarian lesions (Odds ratio: 59.4, 95%CI: 12.3 - 287.8, <i>p</i> < 0.001). There was a significant association between serum <i>β</i>-HCG level and age (<i>p</i> = 0.041) as well as parity (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Concl</b><b>u</b><b>sion: </b>Serum <i>β</i>-HCG levels above the WHO reference in non-pregnant women were associated with suspicious ovarian lesions. More rigorous primary research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are needed to confirm the findings of this study.
%K Biomarkers
%K Ovarian Cancer
%K Pregnancy
%K Ultrasonography
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=133329