Thyroperoxidase antibodies and polycystic ovarian morphology

To evaluate the association between polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) and thyroperoxidase antibody level.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken of women aged 15-49years living in one of four provinces in Iran recruited between February 2009 and November 2010. Eligible women did not have hirsutism and were eumenorrheic. All participants underwent a comprehensive interview, clinical examination, blood sampling, and ultrasonographic assessment. The serum concentration of thyroperoxidase antibodies was compared between women with and without PCOM.

Among 491 participants, 74 (15.1%) had PCOM. In total, 11 (14.9%) women with PCOM and 61 (14.6%) women with normal morphology tested positive for thyroperoxidase antibodies. The serum concentration of thyroperoxidase antibodies was higher among women with PCOM (48.45±135.74IU/mL) than among those with normal ovarian morphology (37.99±96.49IU/mL), but the difference was not significant (P=0.42).

Thyroperoxidase antibody levels were higher in Iranian women with PCOM than in women with normal morphology, although the difference was not significant. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether the treatment of thyroid disorders can prevent the development of PCOM.