Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common gynecological presentation, accounting for
at least 20% of all new outpatient visits. It has been recognized that thyroid dysfunction may have
profound effects on the female reproductive system. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are
associated with a variety of changes, including delayed onset of puberty, anovulatory cycles, and
abnormally high fetal wastage. Hence, this study was conducted to know the thyroid status of the
patient with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in all the patients with abnormal
uterine bleeding in a tertiary care hospital from 2 August 2019 to 2 February 2020. Ethical clearance
was received from the institutional review committee of KIST Medical College. Convenient sampling
was done. Data was collected using a questionnaire which includes patients profile, the pattern of
abnormal uterine bleeding, and thyroid profile. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package
for the Social Sciences version 23.

Results: Out of 79 patients, it was found that 67 (84.8%) were euthyroid, 11 (13.9%) were hypothyroid,
and 1 (1.2%) was hyperthyroidism. The most common type of abnormal uterine bleeding was
menorrhagia 34 (43%), followed by polymenorrhoea 23 (29%), oligomenorrhoea 13 (16.5%),
menometrorrhagia 6 (7.6%), metrorrhagia 2 (2.5%), and hypomenorrhea 1 (1.3%). The maximum
number of patients was between 20-25 years with the mean age of 31 years. Among hypothyroid, 7
(8.8%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 4 (5%) had frank hypothyroidism.

Conclusions: Most females with abnormal uterine bleeding were euthyroid. Menorrhagia was the
most common pattern of abnormal uterine bleeding.