A-Case Control Analysis of Thyroid Disorders in Infertile Women at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: Thyroid disorders have been associated with anovulatory infertility. The paucity of institution-based infertility data of women with thyroid disorders necessitated this study.

Aims and Objectives: To determine and compare the prevalence and pattern of thyroid disorders in infertile and fertile women at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and to assess the predisposing factors to thyroid disorders.

Methodology: It was a case control study involving 162 eligible women with anovulatory infertility from the Gynaecology clinic and 162 eligible fertile women from the family planning clinic. A structured proforma was used to obtain relevant information from participants. Thyroid function test was conducted for each participant. The results were analyzed using the SPSS version 23 software package. Chi-square test was used to compare variables between groups and P value < .05 was considered significant.

Results: Subclinical hypothyroidism was the only thyroid disorder noted with a prevalence of 3.1% among infertile women and 5.6% in fertile women, with no significant difference between both groups (P= .27). Igbo tribe was the commonest ethnic group among the hypothyroid women. Dietary intake of iodine was ‘inadequate’ in all (100%) of the infertile hypothyroid women and 88.9% of the fertile hypothyroid women (P = .439).

Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism was the only identified thyroid disorder and its prevalence was comparable in both fertile and infertile women. Age, family history, dietary intake of iodine, ethnicity and socioeconomic status were not significantly associated with thyroid abnormality.