#143 : Assessment of Ovarian Reserve in Infertile Women with Hypothyroidism

Background: Impaired thyroid function may affect the follicular growth and development and reduces the number of follicles in ovaries. Thus, hypothyroidism may cause the reduction of ovarian reserve in women with reproductive age group. This study aimed to assess the ovarian reserve in infertile hypothyroid women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from July 2021 to June 2022. Total 167 hypothyroid infertile women of 20–35 years of age who had S. TSH level >2.5 mIU/L with normal/low free T4 were included. Ovarian reserve was evaluated by serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC). Thyroid autoimmunity was also assessed by measuring anti thyroid per oxidase antibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). Then the relationship of ovarian reserve, thyroid hormones and anti-thyroid antibodies were assessed. Results: Among the 167 women with hypothyroidism, 124 (74.3%) patients had sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and rest 43 (25.7%) had overt hypothyroidism. Infertile women with overt hypothyroidism had significantly higher TPOAb(+) (67.4%) and TgAb (+) (46.5%) than those of subclinical hypothyroid women (TPOAb+ve : 29%, TgAb+ve : 29.8%, p-value: 0.014). Correlation analysis showed that there was significant negative correlation between AMH and TSH (r: −0.029, p-value: 0.024), TPOAb (r: −0.053, p value: 0.011), TgAb (r: −0.083, p-value: 0.018). Diminished ovarian reserve was significantly associated with overt hypothyroidism in this study population (p-value: 0.001). 33(26.6%) and 23(53.5%) of SCH and overt hypothyroid women had diminished ovarian reserve respectively. Conclusion: Anti-Mullerian hormone was negatively associated with increased TSH level and with anti-thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TgAb). Diminished ovarian reserve was significantly associated overt hypothyroidism. So, the study findings suggest that hypothyroidism has a negative effect on ovarian reserve.