Thyroid disorders in reproductive age presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding

Abstract

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a frequently encountered clinical presentation in gynecological OPD. They are not life threatening but can cause social, psychological and occupational disturbances. As thyroid hormones play a major role in the menstrual and reproductive function of women, studying for thyroid disorder in patients with AUB should be a logical step.This is a prospective observational study conducted in Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, BBSR, Odisha. Two hundred and eighty patients of age group 18 to 45 years presenting with AUB were included in this study. All were subjected to routine investigations along with thyroid function tests.Out of 280 patients, 56 patients (20%) had thyroid abnormality. Among which 26 were diagnosed as subclinical hypothyroidism, 24 had hypothyroidism and 6 patients had hyperthyroidism. The frequent menstrual symptom associated with hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism was menorrhagia. Oligomenorrhea was seen in 50% of hyperthyroid patients.Any type of menstrual disorder should be considered as a possible presenting symptom of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid assessment deemed necessary in such cases, so that we can treat patients at the earliest and prevent morbidities in later life.