title: Thyroid function in infertile patients undergoing assisted reproduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroid disease is one of the most common endocrine conditions affecting women during reproductive age. A link between thyroid and assisted reproduction outcome is debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum TSH levels, number and scoring of oocytes and embryos, and number of clinical pregnancies were retrospectively recorded in 164 women undergoing assisted reproduction technologies (ART) at an University-based fertility center, to evaluate the outcome of the first steps of assisted reproduction (ovarian stimulation, oocyte pickup and fertilization, embryo transfer and implantation) in relation to thyroid function and autoimmunity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant relationship was found between TSH and all parameters, except clinical pregnancy rate (22.3% in TSH ≤ 2.5 group versus 8.9% in TSH > 2.5 mUI/L group; P = 0.045). No pregnancy occurred in women with anti-thyroperoxidase autoantibodies, while pregnancy occurred in 23.9% of cycles without autoimmunity (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies must be conducted in order to shed light on the link between infertility and thyroid dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Chair of Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fumarola
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grani
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romanzi
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Sordo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tranquilli
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aragona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase
keywords: Embryos; ICSI; oocytes; thyroid; thyrotropin