A Study of Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Prolactin Levels of Infertile Females

Background Infertility represents a common condition nowadays, with important medical, economic and psychological implications. Traditionally, measurement of Prolactin (PRL) and thyroid hormones, especially thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) has been considered an important component of infertility workup in females. Objective The study was designed to evaluate the status of thyroid function in infertile Sudanese females and to investigate the impact of thyroid status on serum prolactin level. Method In this retrospective case control study, we investigated seventy infertile females in the age range of 20- 40 years attending department of Diagnostic and research unit at Khartoum teaching hospital for hormonal evaluation from March, 2014 to august, 2015. Thirty (30) healthy fertile females with similar age range were selected as controls group. The association between thyroid dysfunction and levels of serum Prolactin was reviewed. Results In this study the results showed the means levels of TSH and T3 in study group were increased than control group but statistically not significant, P value greater than 0.05 and the mean of T4 in the study group was significant increased than control group less than 0.05, while that the mean level of serum prolactin was significant decreased in the study group than control group. Majority of infertile females were euthyroid and there was no significant association between Infertility & TSH (p greater than 0.05). Hyperprolactinemia was depicted in 24.3 % infertile females. Prevalence of primary infertility was 76 % while that of secondary infertility was 24 % in study group, there was a significant positive correlation between serum TSH and Prolactin levels in infertile subjects with irregular menstrual cycle (p less than 0.05). Conclusion There was higher prevalence of hyperprolactinemia with normal thyroid function in infertile patients.