Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The current evidence on the association between thyroid function or thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) and reproductive outcomes after assisted reproduction techniques (ART) is scarce and inconclusive.

Objective: To record ART outcome according to function and TAI status of thyroid gland.

Methods: A group of 226 subfertile women that underwent any method of ART (IVF, ICSI, intra-uterine insemination (IUI)) from January 2006 to December 2010 were included in the study. Women were excluded if they had failed to complete the ART protocol or if they had a history of thyroid disease. In case more than one ART cycle was applied to a certain woman, only the first one was included in the study.

Results: Studied women were divided into subgroups according to serum TSH concentrations and presence of TAI. Nine had TSH <0.05 μIU/ml, 156 between 0.05 and 2.5 μIU/ml, 51 between 2.5 and 4.5 μIU/ml and nine >4.5 μIU/ml. Overall, 37% of women achieved biochemical pregnancy, 33% clinical pregnancies and 2% miscarried. The live birth rate was 29%. No difference was found among the four TSH or the two TAI subgroups regarding reproductive outcomes. Age was negatively correlated to numbers of retrieved (r=−0.349, P<0.001) and fertilized oocytes (r=−0.344, P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study was not able to demonstrate a relationship between thyroid function or TAI and reproductive outcome after ART. Nevertheless, further prospective trial should be made, studying thyroid function not only before but also during the ART cycle.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.