Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Levels in Women with Uterine Fibroids: A Healthcare Setting Perspective from Coastal Karnataka

Thyroid problems and uterine fibroids (UFs) are common in women. Prior research has also documented the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities, particularly goiter and thyroid nodules, in women with UF. However, there is a lack of definitive baseline information regarding thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in women with UF, especially in the Indian population. The present study aimed to analyze the TSH levels among women with and without UFs. A hospital-based retrospective pilot study of 50 premenopausal women aged 15-55 years with and without fibroids. Their TSH reports were analyzed. 100 patients who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Secondary Care Hospital in Coastal Karnataka, from October to December 2019 (50 each with and without UF) were screened for eligibility criteria. After all the exclusions, 38 women with UF and 26 women without UF were included. High TSH levels were found in 15 (40%) of the 38 women with UF and 8 (31%) of the 26 women without UF. However, the result was not statistically significant. This study shows an increased percentage of high TSH levels among women with UFs (40%) compared to those without UFs (31%), though statistically insignificant. Further observational studies among a large sample population are needed to evaluate the thyroid function among UF patients.