What role does COMT play in fertility?

COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) metabolizes catecholamines and estrogens. The common Val158Met (rs4680) variant alters enzyme activity: Val (high activity) and Met (low activity). In fertility research, COMT is studied mainly regarding estrogen metabolism and conditions like PCOS. Some studies suggest the Met variant may be linked to higher estrogen levels and slightly lower conception rates, but effect sizes are small, findings are inconsistent, and clinical utility is lacking. Lifestyle, age, and other genetic factors play a much larger role. A consumer DNA test for COMT alone cannot predict fertility. Evidence is from candidate-gene and association studies (human-moderate), not clinical trials. Be cautious of marketing claims that overstate the impact of single SNPs on complex traits like fertility.