Biochemical evaluation of thyroid hormone level in infertile women: A case control study

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility in women is an important health problem which imposes psychological stress and affects the wellbeing of couples. Thyroid disorders is the most frequently encountered endocrine problem among the women in the age reproductive and it can lead to infertility and miscarriage. The objective of the study was to evaluate the thyroid hormone level in infertile women and compared to the healthy controls. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 50 infertile women (cases) and 50 fertile healthy women (controls). Thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4) and Anti-thyroid peroxidase (Anti-TPO) levels were estimated and compared between the cases and controls. Results: The mean TSH level was significantly higher in infertile women (cases) as compared controls (6.76±0.87 vs 2.54±0.12mIU/L; p=0.002).The prevalence of hypothyroidism among the infertile women in the present study was 28%. The anti-TPO antibody level was significantly higher was in infertile women as compared to controls (4.87±0.8 vs 2.32±0.05 IU/ml; p=0.000). In addition the number of positive Anti-TPO antibody cases was higher in infertile women as compared to controls (24% vs 4%; p=0.02). Conclusion: Therefore, women planning for pregnancy and infertile women must be evaluated for thyroid profile and if there are any abnormalities they should undergo proper treatment for better pregnancy outcome.

Keywords

• infertility
• women
• thyroid profiles
• thyroid stimulating hormone
• hypothyroidism