Thyroid function and autoimmunity during ovarian stimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Thyroidology
• Infertility Treatment

Background:

• Thyroid function and autoimmunity are critical in reproductive outcomes.
• Ovarian stimulation (OS) protocols for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may impact thyroid parameters.
• Understanding these changes is essential for optimizing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate alterations in thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) during OS for ICSI.
• To investigate the relationship between these thyroid changes and ICSI outcomes, including pregnancy and live birth rates.

Main Methods:

• A flexible gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol was employed in 42 women undergoing ICSI.
• Thyroid function tests (TSH) and TAI markers were assessed at baseline and five time points during OS.
• Statistical analyses were performed to determine changes and correlations with ICSI outcomes.

Main Results:

• No significant overall change in thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations was observed throughout OS.
• A notable increase in TSH was detected on the pregnancy test day in women who conceived (P=0.001).
• Biochemical pregnancy showed a negative correlation with TSH changes (r=-0.7, P=0.004), but no association with live birth rate.

Conclusions:

• TSH concentrations can increase during OS, especially in women who achieve pregnancy.
• Monitoring thyroid function during OS is important for women undergoing ICSI.
• Further research is needed to clarify the impact of TSH fluctuations on live birth rates.