Impaired Fertility Associated with Subclinical Hypothyroidism and Thyroid Autoimmunity: The Danish General Suburban Population Study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to estimate the significance of TSH, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism in women from The Danish General Suburban Population Study (GESUS) on the number of children born, the number of pregnancies, and the number of spontaneous abortions.


METHODS
Retrospective cross sectional study of 11254 women participating in GESUS. Data included biochemical measurements and a self-administrated questionnaire.


RESULTS
6.7% had mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism and 9.4% prevalent hypothyroidism. In women with mild hypothyroidism TPOAb was significantly elevated and age at first child was older compared to controls. TSH and TPOAb were negatively linearly associated with the number of children born and the number of pregnancies in the full cohort in age-adjusted and multiadjusted models. TSH or TPOAb was not associated with spontaneous abortions. Mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism was associated with a risk of not having children and a risk of not getting pregnant in age-adjusted and multiadjusted models. Prevalent hypothyroidism was not associated with the number of children born, the number of pregnancies, or spontaneous abortions.


CONCLUSIONS
Impaired fertility is associated with TSH, TPOAb, and mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism in a Danish population of women.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark.
Anne-Dorthe
AD
Feldthusen
The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark.
Palle L
PL
Pedersen
The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Pathology, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark.
Jacob
J
Larsen
The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Koege Hospital, Lykkebaekvej 1, 4600 Koege, Denmark.
Tina
T
Toft Kristensen
Department of Research, Nykoebing F. Hospital, 4800 Nykobing Falster, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christina
C
Ellervik
The Mitochondrial Research Unit, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; Department of Internal Medicine, Naestved Hospital, Ringstedgade 61, 4700 Naestved, Denmark ; Institute of Regional Health Services, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Jan
J
Kvetny
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013383:Suburban Population; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
D001323:Autoantibodies; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase