open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)
Original paper
Submitted: 2022-01-09
Accepted: 2022-04-22
Published online: 2022-07-19
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The relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and poor response to ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization women with infertility

Münire Funda Cevher Akdulum1, Mehmet Erdem1, Gunel Barut2, Erhan Demirdag1, Özlem Turhan İyidir3, Ismail Guler1, Ahmet Erdem1
·
Pubmed: 35971933
·
Endokrynol Pol 2022;73(4):699-705.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Emniyet Mahallesi, Gazeteci Yazar Muammer Yaşar Bostancı Sokak, Yenimahalle/Ankara, Türkiye
  2. Esenler Obstetrics Gynaecology and Paediatric Hospital Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, İstanbul, Turkey
  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey

open access

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2022-01-09
Accepted: 2022-04-22
Published online: 2022-07-19

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is the most common autoimmune disorder. Patients with TAI are usually euthyroid, and the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) in patients with or without thyroid dysfunction is associated with infertility, recurrent embryo implantation failure, and early pregnancy loss. We aimed to investigate the relationship between low ovarian reserve, pregnancy outcomes, and TAI.

Material and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) patients between 2010 and 2018. All patients (n = 1400) for whom thyroid autoantibody testing was requested were detected. A study group was formed from patients with anti-TPO positivity (n = 363). The control group (n = 555) comprised euthyroid anti-TPO negative patients matched to the study group regarding age and body mass index (BMI).

Results: Mean serum TSH value was 2.35 ± 1.70 mIU/mL in anti-TPO-positive patients and 1.81 ± 1.2 mIU/mL in controls, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). Total dose of gonadotropins used in ovulation induction in anti-TPO-positive and control patients were 3000 IU and 2700 IU, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The number of metaphase 2 oocytes was significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (p < 0.05). Embryo transfer number and embryo grade were significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (p < 0.01). Poor ovarian response was significantly higher in anti-TPO-positive patients (40%) as compared to anti-TPO-negative controls (30%) (p < 0.01). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (29.2%), as compared to the antibody-negative group (38.4%) (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: There are controversial data regarding the impact of antithyroid antibodies on ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcome after IVF treatment. The results of this study indicate that there was a relationship between TAI and poor ovarian response, and that TAI adversely affects IVF outcomes. Further investigations are required to explore the mechanism behind these effects.

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) is the most common autoimmune disorder. Patients with TAI are usually euthyroid, and the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) in patients with or without thyroid dysfunction is associated with infertility, recurrent embryo implantation failure, and early pregnancy loss. We aimed to investigate the relationship between low ovarian reserve, pregnancy outcomes, and TAI.

Material and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) patients between 2010 and 2018. All patients (n = 1400) for whom thyroid autoantibody testing was requested were detected. A study group was formed from patients with anti-TPO positivity (n = 363). The control group (n = 555) comprised euthyroid anti-TPO negative patients matched to the study group regarding age and body mass index (BMI).

Results: Mean serum TSH value was 2.35 ± 1.70 mIU/mL in anti-TPO-positive patients and 1.81 ± 1.2 mIU/mL in controls, and the difference was significant (p < 0.05). Total dose of gonadotropins used in ovulation induction in anti-TPO-positive and control patients were 3000 IU and 2700 IU, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The number of metaphase 2 oocytes was significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (p < 0.05). Embryo transfer number and embryo grade were significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (p < 0.01). Poor ovarian response was significantly higher in anti-TPO-positive patients (40%) as compared to anti-TPO-negative controls (30%) (p < 0.01). Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the anti-TPO-positive group (29.2%), as compared to the antibody-negative group (38.4%) (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: There are controversial data regarding the impact of antithyroid antibodies on ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcome after IVF treatment. The results of this study indicate that there was a relationship between TAI and poor ovarian response, and that TAI adversely affects IVF outcomes. Further investigations are required to explore the mechanism behind these effects.

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Keywords

IVF; poor ovarian response; thyroid autoimmunity

About this article
Title

The relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and poor response to ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization women with infertility

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 73, No 4 (2022)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

699-705

Published online

2022-07-19

Page views

4440

Article views/downloads

818

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2022.0061

Pubmed

35971933

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2022;73(4):699-705.

Keywords

IVF
poor ovarian response
thyroid autoimmunity

Authors

Münire Funda Cevher Akdulum
Mehmet Erdem
Gunel Barut
Erhan Demirdag
Özlem Turhan İyidir
Ismail Guler
Ahmet Erdem

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