SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that non-uterine endometrial implants can express thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors, thus inducing the formation of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. We aimed to compare the autoantibody positivity in patients with and without endometriosis and to determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of thyroid diseases. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted on 102 women who had been operated on for benign gynecological diseases. Cases enrolling in the study were divided into two groups: the study group with endometriosis (n=51) and the control group without endometriosis (n=51). The blood tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels were checked. RESULTS: The mean thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin level was found to be higher in the endometriosis group than in the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was detected between endometriosis and control groups in terms of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The mean fT4 value (0.97±0.13 ng/dL) of the endometriosis patients was found to be significantly lower than the control group (1.08±0.21 ng/dL) (p=0.002; p<0.05). The mean anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody value of cases with bilateral endometrioma (82.21±252.29 IU/mL) was significantly higher than cases with unilateral endometrioma (15.81±83.13 IU/mL) (p=0.028; p<0.05). There is a positive and significant relationship between the size of endometriosis and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values (p=0.011; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study points to an association between endometrioma diameter and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values which can be a stepping stone for new studies evaluating this hypothesis further.

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the use of transperineal ultrasonography while diagnosing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by comparing the urethral angle (α), posterior urethrovesical angle (β), and bladder neck descent (BND) during rest and Valsalva maneuver in continent women and women with SUI. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted with 50 women with SUI and 50 continent women. Transperineal ultrasonography was performed at rest and during Valsalva maneuver. Q-tip test was performed. Results: During the Valsalva maneuver, both α and β angles were significantly higher in women with SUI (p <0.001). The difference between Valsalva and rest measurements of α and β angles (R α, R β) were also significantly higher in women with SUI (p <0.001). The cut-off point determined for the R α in the diagnosis of stress incontinence was 16° (80% sensitivity, 98% specificity). A statistically significant strong correlation was found between Q-tip test angle and R α value (p=0.000; r=0.890). Q-tip VAS pain scores were significantly higher than ultrasonography VAS pain scores (p <0.001). In relation to the bladder neck descent comparison between the two groups showed that BND was significantly higher in SUI group (p <0.001). The cut-off point determined for BND in the diagnosis of SUI was >11mm (90% sensitivity, 98% specificity). Conclusion: Transperineal ultrasonography is a practical, reliable, non-invasive and comfortable method for evaluation of SUI. It has the advantage of dynamic evaluation during the Valsalva maneuver. Rotation angles and BND have high sensitivity and specificity for detection of SUI. The change in α angle with Valsalva (Rα) can be used as an alternative to Q-tip test.