The Study of Dermatoglyphic Patterns in Females with Primary Infertility: A Case-Control Study in the Maharashtra Population

Abstract

Introduction: Dermatoglyphics is a widely known technique applied in genetic and medical research for the examination of finger, palm, and sole patterns. Dermatoglyphic characters are formed in the fetal stage and remain unaltered throughout their life. Some previous studies have indicated that dermatoglyphic patterns are linked with some reproductive disorders, like primary infertility. This study focuses on the evaluation and comparison of the dermatoglyphic patterns of females with primary infertility and healthy controls in the Maharashtra population.

Methods: It involves a case-control study on two hundred females diagnosed with primary infertility and two hundred age-matched healthy controls. Several dermatoglyphic patterns were found, including total ridge count (TRC), atd angles, loops, whorls, and arches, which were assessed and compared among the groups.

Results: When compared to the control group, the dermatoglyphic patterns of the infertility group were significantly different. Whorls and arches were more common in this group, and loops were less common. Furthermore, the infertility group exhibited a higher mean atd angle value and a lower total ridge count in comparison to the control group.

Conclusion: Certain dermatoglyphic features correlated with female primary infertility in Maharashtra have been identified. These results can be taken as a precursor to further research work on the genetic basis of infertility and also with regard to whether dermatoglyphics can be used as a diagnostic tool.