Prevalence of thyroid disorders and pattern of bleeding among women with abnormal uterine bleeding, a cross-sectional study

• Author Details:   
• Sridevi A. S
• Ashwini Mallikarjun Kollur
• Anoop Gurunath Kanthi
• Sunil Kumar K S ^*

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Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding refers to bleeding from the uterus in the absence of any organic disease of the genital tract or a clear extragenital cause. Thyroid dysfunction is frequently associated with a variety of menstrual abnormalities. Early detection of thyroid disorders in patients presenting with menstrual dysfunction can help prevent unnecessary surgical interventions. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of thyroid disorders and assess the menstrual patterns among the study subjects.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among eighty reproductive age women presenting with various menstrual disorders in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad. All patients underwent routine investigations, including the estimation of T3, T4, and TSH levels, and were classified as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroid, overt hypothyroid, or overt hyperthyroid.

Results: Majority (36.3%) belonged to the age-group of 21 to 30 years. Most patients (71.2%) were euthyroid, while sub-clinical hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid dysfunction (25.0%) with overall prevalence of thyroid dysfunction being 28.8%. Menorrhagia was the most common bleeding pattern (42.5%). Thyroid dysfunction was most prevalent in patients with polymenorrhea/ oligomenorrhea/ amenorrhea with or without dysmenorrhea (35.5% vs 24.5%), but no significant association was found (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Sub-clinical hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid dysfunction (25.0%) and menorrhagia was the most common AUB pattern (42.5%) in the current study.