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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Measurement of Four Uterine NK Cell Subtypes Using Multiplexed Fluorescent Immunohistochemical Staining in Women with Repeated Implantation Failure

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THYROID DYSFUNCTION IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE: LABORATORY PROTOCOL FOR INFERTILITY EVALUATION.

A A Akande¹, I A Isah², I S Aliyu³

¹Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine

|April 3, 2023

Summary

Thyroid dysfunction affects 16% of infertile Nigerian women, with hypothyroidism being most common in secondary infertility cases. Routine thyroid screening is recommended for infertility evaluation.

Keywords:

Infertility.Laboratory evaluation Reproductive age Thyroid dysfunction

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Published on: October 24, 2025

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Reproductive Medicine
Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

Infertility presents significant social, financial, and medical challenges in developing countries.
In Nigeria, infertility affects 10-14% of women, with biochemical causes in 80% of cases.
Laboratory diagnostics are crucial for improving infertility diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among infertile women.
To assess the association between thyroid dysfunction and infertility in the Nigerian population.

Main Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 125 infertile women (primary and secondary infertility) and 125 fertile controls.
Analysis of serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) using ELISA kits.
Statistical analysis using SPSS v20.0, with p ≤ 0.05 considered significant.

Main Results:

Thyroid dysfunction was observed in 16% (20/125) of infertile participants.
Overt hypothyroidism (9.6%) and subclinical hypothyroidism (4.0%) were the most common thyroid dysfunctions.
Thyroid dysfunction was more prevalent in women with secondary infertility (21.8%).

Conclusions:

Thyroid function testing, particularly TSH, should be a routine part of infertility assessments.
Screening for thyroid dysfunction is especially important for patients with secondary infertility.
Early diagnosis and management of thyroid dysfunction can potentially improve infertility outcomes.