IMPACT OF THYROID HORMONE DEFICIENCY ON MENSTRUAL PHYSIOLOGY IN REPRODUCTIVE-AGE WOMEN: INSIGHTS FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NORTH INDIA
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Keywords
Hypothyroidism; Menstrual irregularities; Subclinical hypothyroidism; Menorrhagia; Reproductive-age women; Thyroid dysfunction; Abnormal uterine bleeding.
Abstract
Background: Thyroid hormones play a pivotal role in regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis and maintaining normal menstrual cyclicity. Even subtle disturbances in thyroid function may lead to menstrual irregularities, infertility, and other reproductive health disorders. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and pattern of hypothyroidism and its impact on menstrual abnormalities among women of reproductive age in a tertiary care centre in North India.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 200 women aged 18–45 years attending the gynecology outpatient department, of whom 100 presented with menstrual irregularities (study group) and 100 were age-matched healthy controls. Detailed menstrual and obstetric histories were obtained, and thyroid profiles (TSH, free T3, free T4) were estimated using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Thyroid status was classified as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, or overt hypothyroid based on reference standards. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Thyroid dysfunction was detected in 41% of women with menstrual irregularities compared with 8% of controls (p < 0.001). Subclinical hypothyroidism (26%) was more prevalent than overt hypothyroidism (13%). The most frequent menstrual abnormalities were menorrhagia (46%) and oligomenorrhea (31%), followed by amenorrhea (8%). A positive correlation was noted between serum TSH levels and severity of menstrual disturbance. Regularization of cycles was observed in 70% of hypothyroid subjects following thyroxine therapy over three months.
Conclusion: Hypothyroidism, particularly the subclinical form, is a common underlying cause of menstrual irregularities in reproductive-age women. Routine thyroid screening should be incorporated into the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding to ensure early diagnosis and timely management.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Umbreen Nazir
Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Jammu.
Yassir Mehmood
Department of General Surgery, Government Medical College, Jammu.
Shagufta
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College and SMGS Hospital Jammu.