Association of Bleeding Patterns with Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive menstruation outside the normal parameters is one of the most common manifestations of hypothyroidism affecting the females. Thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with late onset puberty, anovulatory cycles and abnormally high incidence of foetal morbidity and mortality. Aim: To study the association of bleeding pattern with thyroid dysfunction among patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, from October 2012 to June 2014, among 140 females with a provisional diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding were subjected to testing for serum Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies estimation in their serum. Data was analysed using Chi-square test and the p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total of 140 patients, with maximum number of patients in the study belonged to the age group 31-40 years, 57 (40.71%) and 46 (32.8%) patients were para 2. Among different bleeding patterns observed, most common was menorrhagia, 62 (44.28%). The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 10 (7.14%), there were five hypothyroid cases (3.5%), and two hyperthyroid cases (1.4%) among 140 cases. The total thyroid disorders associated were 17 (12.14%). Conclusion: In the present study, association of thyroid dysfunction with AUB has been noted. With early diagnosis of thyroid disorders in AUB patients, followed by appropriate treatment, the menstrual irregularities can be resolved and major surgical procedures can be avoided.

Keywords

• foetal morbidity
• hyperthyroidism
• hypothyroidism
• thyroid peroxidase antibodies