Study of Thyroid Autoantibodies in Infertile Women Visiting Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth, sexual development and reproductive function. Thyroid dysfunction can lead to a variety of gynaecological disorders ranging from menstrual irregularities to infertility. Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is now one of the most important causes of female infertility. Thus, this study was designed to study possible relationship between thyroid disorders, as well as thyroid autoimmunity and unexplained infertility.

Methodology: This was a hospital based cross-sectional observational study comprising hundred (100) infertile women aging 18-35 years in Outpatient Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Endocrinology in Chittagong Medical College Hospital and Department of Biochemistry, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram. Samples were taken by non-probability consecutive sampling. Important variables in this study were serum FT3, FT4, TSH and thyroid antibodies (anti TPO and anti TG).

Results: The majority of the infertile women were 21-30 years. Primary and subclinical hypothyroidism were 5% and 17% cases in this study. On the other hand, 22% cases of this study had anti-TG antibody positive and 26% cases had anti-TPO antibody positive.

Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that, increased anti thyroid antibody were associated with a higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and mainly hypothyroidism. So, we propose that a systematic screening of TSH, FT3, FT4 and the presence of thyroid antibodies could be considered in all women with a female cause of infertility.

EMCJ. July 2022; 7(2): 6-9