Incidental Finding of Brunner Gland Hyperplasia in a Case of Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

BACKGROUND Thyroid disorders are common in females and their impact on the female reproduction is well established. The role of thyroid hormone on male reproduction received much attention with recognition of thyroid hormone receptor expression on gonadal cells. Studies in humans evaluating the impact of varying severity of thyroid hypofunction on male fertility are limited. OBJECTIVE To study the thyroid status and correlation with semen parameters in male partners of couples attending infertility clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, data on thyroid hormone levels, anti-TPO antibodies, semen parameters of 125 men attending infertility clinic, after excluding men with known thyroid disorder, on thyroid medication, other drugs and medical conditions which have an influence on thyroid status, were analysed. RESULTS Of the total 125 subjects, 84% men were euthyroid, whereas thyroid hypofunction, which included subclinical hypothyroidism and overt hypothyroidism was observed in 14.4% and 1.6% of men respectively. 11% of the subjects had positive anti-TPO antibodies. Normal semen parameters were observed in 82 subjects whereas 43 men had abnormal semen parameters. None of the semen parameters correlated with TSH; however, there was a non-significant increase in spermatozoa with abnormal morphology (95% vs. 90.8%, p=0.522), decrease in spermatozoa with normal morphology (5% vs. 7.38, p=0.273) and decrease in sperm count (49.24 vs. 37.67 million/mL, p=0.473) in subjects with TSH>10 in comparison with subjects with TSH<10. CONCLUSION This study found higher prevalence of thyroid hypofunction, and higher positive TPO antibody status among men attending infertility clinic. No correlation was found between thyroid hormones and semen parameters.