Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity in infertile women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Cairo University

2 Department of Clinical and Chemical pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity (antithyroglobulin and antithyroid peroxidase)
and thyroid dysfunction (hypo- or hyperthyroidism) among women with different causes of infertility.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 255 patients with infertility who were recruited
from the gynecology clinic, Kasr Al Ainy Hospitals, Cairo University, Egypt. Patients were divided into 4 groups. Group < br />A including infertile women with either unexplained or anovulatory infertility with/without associated male factor,
group B including infertile women with a tubal (mechanical) factor of infertility with/without associated male factor,
group C including infertile women with both anovulation and tubal factor with/without associated male factor and a
control group including women with exclusive male factor. Serum levels of TSH, antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and
antithyroglobulin (anti-TG) were measured in all patients.
Results: The TSH level was abnormal in 22 out of 255 women (9.8%). 44 (17.3%) were positive for anti-TPO
antibodies, 26 (10.2%) were positive for anti-TG antibodies. Seventy patients (27.5%) had TSH levels above 2.5 mIU/L.
No significant difference was found between different causes of infertility in TSH or antithyroid antibodies. There was a
positive correlation between frequencies of both positive anti-TG and secondary infertility in group B.
Conclusion: There is no significant relationship between thyroid dysfunction and the type of infertility (functional or
mechanical), or its duration. According to our study, the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies seems to be the same in
infertile women and control. Antithyroglobulin might be associated with secondary infertility due to tubal factor.