Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Analysis of basal serum TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels based on age, sampling
time in women with infertility
Version: 
0 
Date: 
24 May 2021
Reviewer: 
Longla Acheliu
Reviewer's report:
The authors concisely reported the main findings that were obtained from the
analysis of data obtained from women who consulted at the clinic for ART. The
language used in the writeup and the presentation are good. However, I have a
few comments and questions concerning the manuscript. 
Abstract - From this section, the study design and the statistical tests that were
used to answer the research question were not stated. I think the reader needs to
know after reading the abstract. 
Introduction - on line 20, the authors mentioned that they also analyzed the
serum markers of thyroid function with respect to the cause of infertility but I
did not see this in the results of the analysis
Methods - After reading through the manuscript, I have the impression that this
is a retrospective study but this needs to be stated in this section. 
- I will like to also know if you have a main outcome that you seek to investigate
in this study
- Can the authors please provide the rationale for using both the ANOVA and
Kruskal- Wallis rank sum tests?
- on line 10, I think the right terminology to use is categorical, not discontinuous
data
Results 
- on tables 1 and 2, the results of Chi-square/Fishers tests are illustrated
but I find it difficult to interpret these tables as there are five column categories
- on tables 4 & 5, the results of ANOVA showed a significant difference in the
mean of FT3 across the different age categories. Considering the fact that there
are many age categories, conducting a post hoc test or pairwise analysis will help
to explain the differences that were obtained. 
- Did the authors consider fitting a model that can be used to predict levels of
TSH or other thyroid markers using age and time of collection of specimen?
This may be informative in establishing reference ranges that takes into account
these variables. 
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
No
Is the presentation of the work clear?
Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
Yes