A Single Radioactive Iodine Treatment Has a Deleterious Effect on Ovarian Reserve in Women with Thyroid Cancer: Results of a Prospective Pilot Study

Background: Women of reproductive age with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) often need radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment after surgery. In contrast to the well-documented effect of RAI on testicular function, the potential negative effects of this treatment on ovarian reserve have been largely dismissed. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the possibility that RAI treatment is deleterious to the ovarian reserve by prospectively measuring the concentration of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) after RAI treatment. Methods: Thirty premenopausal women (Mage = 34 years; range 20–45 years) with a new diagnosis of DTC scheduled to undergo RAI ablation were recruited for this study. All of them had TNM stage 1 disease (T1–3, N0, or N1, M0), and were scheduled to receive RAI activities ranging from 30 to 150 mCi. AMH was measured at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the administration of RAI. Results: Of the 30 women, only 24 returned after the baseline assessment. RAI treatment resulted in ...