A Prospective Study to Evaluate Thyroid Function Tests in Post-menopausal Females at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Introduction:Thyroid problems are quite common during the peri-menopausal and post-menopausal years. The physical foundation of the menopausal state rests on the health of our endocrine system. When estrogen is not properly counterbalanced with progesterone, it can block the action of thyroid hormone, so even when the thyroid is producing normal hormone levels, the hormone is rendered ineffective and the symptoms of hypothyroidism appear.Aims & Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the thyroid functions in post-menopausal women of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.Methodology:This was a cross sectional study of thirty healthy postmenopausal females of 45-70 years age groups. We conducted this study at Government Medical College, Aurangabad during June 2005 to December 2007. Blood was tested for serum thyrotropin concentrations and for free tri-iodothyronine and free thyroxin concentrations. The data was analyzed using the method of descriptive statistics and the results expressed as percentage of the total.Results: In the present study out of total 30 postmenopausal females studied, only one (3.33%) was found with subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism was defined by the presence of elevated TSH levels but normal free T4 and free T3. Fisher's exact test.The two-tailed P value is less than 0.0001 which is considered as statistically significant. Conclusion:The association between Post-menopausal women having subclinical hypothyroidism and Post-menopausal women who do not have subclinical hypothyroidismis considered to be extremely statistically significant. Hence our study indicates the importance of thyroid-status screening, especially in postmenopausal women.