Objective: 

This study is peformed to determine the role of thyroid hormones in women with regard to infertility.

Methods: 

This study was carried out in fertile (n=44) and infertile (n=40) women (15 to 45-year-old, mean age= 32.6±0.69) who consulted to different maternity and gynecology outpatients in Kars Maternity Hospital and Artvin State Hospitals. Women were divided into three groups as primary fertile (n=30), secondary infertile (n=10) and fertile (n=44). Serum hormone levels were determined in blood samples collected during early follicular phase by Microparticulary Enzyme Immunoassay (MEIA).

Results: 

Serum TSH levels were 1.7±0.4, 1.6±0.2, 0.8±0.2 mIU/ml for fertile, primary infertile and secondary infertile groups, respectively (p>0.05). FT3 levels were 2.36± 0.06, 2.46±0.09, 2.35±0.2 pg/ml while FT4 levels 0.98±0.02, 0.94±0.04, 1.0±0.03 ng/dl for fertile, primary infertile and secondary infertile groups, respectively (p>0.05 for both FT3 and FT4). There was a significant negative relationship between TSH and FT4 (p=0.012, r=-0.275) and a significant positive relationship between FT3 and FT4 (p=0.002, r= 0.330). Prolactin levels also did not differ between the groups and they were 16.7±2.6, 21.1±2.1, 16±1.9 ng/ml for fertile, primary infertile and secondary infertile groups, respectively (p>0.05).

Conclusions: 

In conclusion, there were no differences between the groups in terms of TSH, FT3, FT4 and prolactin levels. The hormone levels were generally within normal range, therefore a relationship between these parameters and infertility was not observed. A more comprehensive study might be needed to be carried out with patients having hypothyoidism or hyperthyroidism.