Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya
Background: Menorrhagia, characterised by menstrual blood loss exceeding 80 mL per cycle, is a common issue in Western Kenya. However, there are insufficient data on how hormonal disorders contribute to its occurrence. Objective: This study aimed to examine the differences and associations between...
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| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-04-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2653 |
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| author | Phidelis M. Marabi Paul M. Kosiyo Stanslaus K. Musyoki Collins Ouma |
| author_facet | Phidelis M. Marabi Paul M. Kosiyo Stanslaus K. Musyoki Collins Ouma |
| author_sort | Phidelis M. Marabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Menorrhagia, characterised by menstrual blood loss exceeding 80 mL per cycle, is a common issue in Western Kenya. However, there are insufficient data on how hormonal disorders contribute to its occurrence.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the differences and associations between thyroid and reproductive hormone levels in women with menorrhagia versus those without, in Bungoma County, Kenya.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 428 women (214 with menorrhagia and 214 controls) aged 18–45 years, between 01 December 2022 and 31 September 2023 at Bungoma County Referral Hospital. The analysis included thyroid stimulating hormone, total and free triiodothyronine, thyroxine, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone, prolactin, oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Results: Women experiencing menorrhagia had statistically significant increases in levels of FSH (p 0.0001), oestrogen (p 0.001), and total testosterone (p 0.001), while prolactin levels had a statistically significant decrease (p 0.001) compared to those without menorrhagia. There were no statistically significant differences in total triiodothyronine (p = 0.384), free triiodothyronine (p = 0.610), total thyroxine (p = 0.127), free thyroxine (p = 0.360), or thyroid stimulating (p = 0.118). No associations were found between menorrhagia and either thyroid or reproductive hormones.
Conclusion: Elevated levels of FSH, oestrogen, and testosterone, along with reduced prolactin, may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing menorrhagia in premenopausal or reproductively aged women. A screening tool that integrates these hormonal markers could improve the accuracy of diagnosis and optimise treatment strategies in primary healthcare settings.
What this study adds: The study suggests that levels of FSH, oestrogen, total testosterone, and prolactin differ significantly between women with and without menorrhagia, indicating their potential use in predicting the condition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d160596b45b48d5a7b77e09380f72e5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2225-2002 2225-2010 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Laboratory Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d160596b45b48d5a7b77e09380f72e52025-08-20T03:53:02ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Laboratory Medicine2225-20022225-20102025-04-01141e1e910.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2653494Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in KenyaPhidelis M. Marabi0Paul M. Kosiyo1Stanslaus K. Musyoki2Collins Ouma3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya; and, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, MasenoDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Maseno University, MasenoDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, KituiDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, MasenoBackground: Menorrhagia, characterised by menstrual blood loss exceeding 80 mL per cycle, is a common issue in Western Kenya. However, there are insufficient data on how hormonal disorders contribute to its occurrence. Objective: This study aimed to examine the differences and associations between thyroid and reproductive hormone levels in women with menorrhagia versus those without, in Bungoma County, Kenya. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 428 women (214 with menorrhagia and 214 controls) aged 18–45 years, between 01 December 2022 and 31 September 2023 at Bungoma County Referral Hospital. The analysis included thyroid stimulating hormone, total and free triiodothyronine, thyroxine, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone, prolactin, oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Results: Women experiencing menorrhagia had statistically significant increases in levels of FSH (p 0.0001), oestrogen (p 0.001), and total testosterone (p 0.001), while prolactin levels had a statistically significant decrease (p 0.001) compared to those without menorrhagia. There were no statistically significant differences in total triiodothyronine (p = 0.384), free triiodothyronine (p = 0.610), total thyroxine (p = 0.127), free thyroxine (p = 0.360), or thyroid stimulating (p = 0.118). No associations were found between menorrhagia and either thyroid or reproductive hormones. Conclusion: Elevated levels of FSH, oestrogen, and testosterone, along with reduced prolactin, may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing menorrhagia in premenopausal or reproductively aged women. A screening tool that integrates these hormonal markers could improve the accuracy of diagnosis and optimise treatment strategies in primary healthcare settings. What this study adds: The study suggests that levels of FSH, oestrogen, total testosterone, and prolactin differ significantly between women with and without menorrhagia, indicating their potential use in predicting the condition.https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2653menorrhagiathyroidreproductivehormonewomenkenya. |
| spellingShingle | Phidelis M. Marabi Paul M. Kosiyo Stanslaus K. Musyoki Collins Ouma Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya African Journal of Laboratory Medicine menorrhagia thyroid reproductive hormone women kenya. |
| title | Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya |
| title_full | Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya |
| title_short | Thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in Kenya |
| title_sort | thyroid and reproductive hormonal factors associated with menorrhagia among women in kenya |
| topic | menorrhagia thyroid reproductive hormone women kenya. |
| url | https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2653 |
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