Association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer in Saudi female patients

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid cancer ranks the second highest cause of cancer among women in Saudi Arabia. Several risk factors have been reported as determinants of the onset of thyroid cancer. However, an association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer has not been completely explored in Saudi female patients with thyroid carcinoma. Objective: This study was designed to investigate an association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer in Saudi female patients. Methods: This is a case control study performed in Qassim University affiliated hospitals. The 90 Saudi females with thyroid cancer and 178 normal human controls of the same age groups were included. All participants were requested to complete a questionnaire based on their menstrual and reproductive history. Results: The analysis showed no statistically significant association between variables of mean age of menarche, current status of menopause, pattern of menstrual cycles, mean duration of menstrual cycle, mean age at first pregnancy, mean number of pregnancies, mean number of deliveries, mean number of live births, family planning methods used (intrauterine devices, used injectable and used oral contraceptives) and thyroid cancer. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive study, to the best for our knowledge, from Qassim region of Saudi Arabia that demonstrates that menstrual and reproductive factors, have no significant association with the onset of thyroid cancer in Saudi females.