Study of Thyroid Dysfunction in Association with Infertility

Aims: To evaluate the relation of female infertility to thyroid dysfunction.

Study Design: This is a descriptive, hospital-based study.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was carried out in the department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Gynae and Obst department, Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and research centre Solapur. Over the period of 6 month from August 2015 to January 2016.

Methodology: The study group included 60 cases among which 48 women were having primary infertility & 12 women had secondary infertility, while control group included 40 fertile euthyroid women. Serum T3, T4 and TSH estimation was done by Enzyme linked fluorescent assay on mini VIDAS.

Results: In hyperthyroid FT3 level 21.33±7.31 pmol/L, in hypothyroid 3.52±1.20 pmol/L (P value < 0.001, i.e., highly significant), and in euthyroid 4.19±0.58 pmol/L (P value ˃ 0.05, i.e., not significant), 4.17±0.80 pmol/L, when compared with control. FT4 level was 52.7±4.52 pmol/L in hyperthyroid (p value ˂0.001. i.e. highly significant), while in hypothyroid 9.80±5.5 pmol/L, and in euthyroid 13.82±3.48 pmol/L (P value ˃ 0.05, i.e. not significant), 14.63±2.85 pmol/L, when compared with control. Serum TSH level in hyperthyroid was 0.22±0.10 µIU/ml, in hypothyroid 21.98±19.86 µIU/ml (P value ˂ 0.001, i.e. significant), 2.61±1.24 µIU/ml in euthyroid (P value ˃ 0.05, i.e. not significant); 2.72±1.51 µIU/ml when compared with control.

Conclusion: Thyroid hormones play an important role in normal reproductive function, both through direct effects on the ovaries and also indirectly by multiple interactions with other sex hormones. Therefore, thyroid dysfunction can lead to menstrual irregularities and, thus, finally to infertility.