The association of thyroid stimulating hormone levels and intrauterine insemination outcomes of euthyroid unexplained subfertile couples

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2019 Sep:240:99-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.06.022. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of different TSH (0.5-2.49 mIU/L and 2.5-4.5 mIU/L) levels on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes of euthyroid unexplained subfertile patients who are negative for thyroid antibodies.

Study design: In this retrospective cohort study, data of euthyroid subfertile patients who underwent IUI due to unexplained infertility at a university-based infertility clinic between January 2013 and December 2014 were reviewed. A total of 156 patients of them were categorized into two groups according to pre-conceptional TSH levels. The first study group consisted of patients with serum TSH levels 0.5-2.49 mIU/L and the second study group consisted of patients with serum TSH levels 2.5-4.5 mIU/L. The primary outcome measure was live birth rate.

Results: Demographics and cycle characteristics of the study groups were similar. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups regarding main outcome measures (live birth rate, P = 0.82; clinical pregnancy rate, P = 0.64; miscarriage rate, P = 0.57).

Conclusion: Pre-conceptional TSH levels ranging between 0.5-4.5 mU/L does not appear to have a significant effect on IUI outcome of euthyroid women who are negative for thyroid antibodies.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology; Infertility; Intrauterine insemination; Thyroid antibody; Thyroid stimulating hormone.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro*
  • Humans
  • Infertility / blood
  • Infertility / therapy*
  • Insemination, Artificial / methods*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thyrotropin / blood*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Thyrotropin