Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in male and female fertility and fecundity

Abstract
Interleukin-10 (IL10) is assumed beneficial for a successful pregnancy; it may increase fertility and fecundity. Allele frequencies of IL10 polymorphisms at position −2849, −1082 and −592 were analyzed in association with a past history of fertility and fecundity in men and women of at least 85 years old. Fertility was decreased in association with the −2849 A allele in females; 27% of the AA genotype carriers produced no offspring in marriage compared to 14% of the G allele carriers (odds ratio (OR): 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–4.2, P=0.01). Effective fecundability was decreased in association with the –2849 A allele in females; 7% of female −2849 AA genotype carriers had a child within 371 days of marriage (therefore, conceived within 3 months of marriage) compared to 28% of female G allele carriers (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.04–0.7, P=0.01). This suggests an association between the –2849 AA genotype and a decreased fertility and fecundity in females.