P-486 Fertility in the workplace: The emotional, physical and psychological impact of infertility in the workplace

Study question

How can a supportive workplace environment influence the emotional and physical wellbeing of those Impacted by fertility issues?

Summary answer

Implementing a supportive environment and workplace fertility policies can substantially improve physical and emotional wellbeing and is indeed best practice benefiting both employees and employers.

What is known already

Most people facing fertility issues are in some form of employment. Trying to conceive, fertility investigations and fertility treatment, can impact physical and emotional wellbeing causing distress, anxiety and affect relationships with family, friends and colleagues. This can lead to a detrimental effect on workplace performance, job satisfaction, career progression and an increase in absence or sick time for those employees who are actively trying to conceive. The demands of navigating treatment whilst working can cause immense emotional stress on an individual as well as potentially affecting the wider organisation as a whole unless best practice in support is shown.

Study design, size, duration

During October 2021, two surveys were conducted to explore and make the link between the personal / human experience of infertility and the corporate impact / responsibility in supporting someone through it. The first survey was disseminated to 503 workers who were either trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or who have conditions related to fertility and the second survey was sent to 1054 workers who did not identify that they were on a fertility journey.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Two online anonymous surveys were conducted, the first contained 18 questions and were aimed at 503 workers who identified that they were either trying to conceive, currently pregnant or who had conditions related to fertility. The second questionnaire contained 9 questions and was aimed at 1054 respondents who were not on a fertility journey, 508 of which were in senior or management positions. All respondents were in current employment in various roles.

Main results and the role of chance

The main results of the combined surveys showed that nearly 2 in 3 women have felt overwhelmed by their fertility journey. Over half of respondents feel that their fertility journey has made them feel depressed and/or anxious and the majority of those who have had miscarriages say that their fertility journey has been traumatic (79%). Almost two thirds (63%) have not been offered fertility counselling or support by their workplace.

Employees who are on their fertility journey are often? unable to work to their full potential, with 40% having considered leaving their job entirely. Reduced working hours, a change in career path and passing up important career opportunities are all actions respondents have taken whilst on their fertility journey. This remains equal across both male and females, with 31% of those who have reduced their hours/ gone part time having had a partner experience miscarriage.

61% have told their employer about their fertility journey, 23% have spoken about it in detail.

24% of those on their journey have had to lie to colleagues/ managers in order to attend/ manage fertility appointments and/or treatment.

Limitations, reasons for caution

No limitations identified. Male, female and gender neutral/ non-binary respondents were included in the survey, along with those who identified as single or were in heterosexual or same sex relationships.

Wider implications of the findings

These study findings support the research conducted by Fertility Network UK which highlights that supporting workers and employees, signposting to specialist fertility counselling, implementation of flexible working, fertility workplace policies, a supportive workplace and education is recommended for all organisations. To benefit both employer and employee alike

Trial registration number

not applicable

The Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoimmunity in Women With History of Miscarriage or Subfertility

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of and factors associated with different thyroid dysfunction phenotypes in women who are asymptomatic preconception.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

A total of 49 hospitals across the United Kingdom between 2011 and 2016.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 16 to 41years with history of miscarriage or subfertility trying for a pregnancy.

METHODS

Prevalences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the binomial exact method. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for thyroid disease.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Rates of thyroid dysfunction.

RESULTS

Thyroid function and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) data were available for 19213 and 19237 women, respectively. The prevalence of abnormal thyroid function was 4.8% (95% CI, 4.5-5.1); euthyroidism was defined as levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) of 0.44 to 4.50 mIU/L and free thyroxine (fT4) of 10 to 21 pmol/L. Overt hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.50 mIU/L, fT4 < 10 pmol/L) was present in 0.2% of women (95% CI, 0.1-0.3) and overt hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0.44 mIU/L, fT4 > 21 pmol/L) was present in 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2-0.3). The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) using an upper TSH concentration of 4.50 mIU/L was 2.4% (95% CI, 2.1-2.6). Lowering the upper TSH to 2.50 mIU/L resulted in higher rates of SCH, 19.9% (95% CI, 19.3-20.5). Multiple regression analyses showed increased odds of SCH (TSH > 4.50 mIU/L) with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35.0 kg/m2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.71; 95% CI, 1.13-2.57; P = 0.01) and Asian ethnicity (aOR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31-2.37; P < 0.001), and increased odds of SCH (TSH ≥ 2.50 mIU/L) with subfertility (aOR 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.29; P = 0.008). TPOAb positivity was prevalent in 9.5% of women (95% CI, 9.1-9.9).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of undiagnosed overt thyroid disease is low. SCH and TPOAb are common, particularly in women with higher BMI or of Asian ethnicity. A TSH cutoff of 2.50 mIU/L to define SCH results in a significant proportion of women potentially requiring levothyroxine treatment.

OR11-1 A Randomized Trial of Preconception Levothyroxine in Euthyroid Women with Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies

BACKGROUND Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are associated with increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth, even when thyroid function is normal. Small trials indicate levothyroxine could reduce such adverse outcomes. METHODS We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate whether levothyroxine treatment would increase live birth rates among euthyroid women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies and a history of miscarriage or infertility. We randomly assigned women to receive 50mcg daily of levothyroxine or placebo, commenced preconception and continued until the end of pregnancy. The primary outcome was live birth ≥34 weeks gestation. RESULTS We tested 19,585 women for thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid function across 49 hospitals in the United Kingdom. A total of 952 women were randomly assigned to receive either levothyroxine (476) or placebo (476). The follow-up rate for the primary outcome was 98.7% (940/952). A pregnancy was achieved in 266/470 (56.6%) in the levothyroxine group and 274/470 (58.3%) in the placebo group. The live birth rate in the levothyroxine group was 37.4% (176/470) versus 37.9% (178/470) in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.14, p=0.74; absolute risk difference, -0.4%; 95% CI, -6.6% to 5.8%). There were no significant differences in other pregnancy outcomes, including the rates of pregnancy loss, preterm birth, or in neonatal outcomes. Serious adverse events occurred in 6% of women in the levothyroxine group and 4% in the placebo group (p=0.14). CONCLUSION Treatment with levothyroxine in euthyroid women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies did not increase the rate of live births. Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

Levothyroxine in Women with Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies before Conception

BACKGROUND

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and preterm birth, even when thyroid function is normal. Small trials indicate that the use of levothyroxine could reduce the incidence of such adverse outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate whether levothyroxine treatment would increase live-birth rates among euthyroid women who had thyroid peroxidase antibodies and a history of miscarriage or infertility. A total of 19,585 women from 49 hospitals in the United Kingdom underwent testing for thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid function. We randomly assigned 952 women to receive either 50 μg once daily of levothyroxine (476 women) or placebo (476 women) before conception through the end of pregnancy. The primary outcome was live birth after at least 34 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

The follow-up rate for the primary outcome was 98.7% (940 of 952 women). A total of 266 of 470 women in the levothyroxine group (56.6%) and 274 of 470 women in the placebo group (58.3%) became pregnant. The live-birth rate was 37.4% (176 of 470 women) in the levothyroxine group and 37.9% (178 of 470 women) in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 1.14, P = 0.74; absolute difference, -0.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -6.6 to 5.8). There were no significant between-group differences in other pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy loss or preterm birth, or in neonatal outcomes. Serious adverse events occurred in 5.9% of women in the levothyroxine group and 3.8% in the placebo group (P = 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of levothyroxine in euthyroid women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies did not result in a higher rate of live births than placebo. (Funded by the United Kingdom National Institute for Health Research; TABLET Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN15948785.).

Postpartum posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a twin pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia-eclampsia: case report

This is the second case in literature of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a twin pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia-eclampsia. A 27-year-old primigravida with dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy was admitted at 36 weeks of gestation for induction of labour due to preeclampsia. On the second day postpartum, the patient developed severe hypertension, visual symptoms, confusion, headache, and eclamptic fits. Head computed tomography (CT) showed hypodense basal ganglia lesions. The patient was treated in the intensive treatment unit with hydralazine and labetalol infusions and anticonvulsants. Five days later, there was complete clinical improvement and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal. The patient was discharged 11 days post-delivery. Diagnosis of PRES is based on the presence of clinical features of acute neurologic compromise, abnormal neuroimaging findings, and complete reversibility of findings after prompt treatment. Early recognition and proper treatment result in complete reversibility of this condition.