Early Marriage
Human Reproduction, Vol.24, No.9 pp. 2183– 2186, 2009
Advanced Access publication on June 5, 2009 doi:10.1093/humrep/dep202
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Infertility
Endometriotic ovarian cysts negatively affect the rate of spontaneous ovulation 1
`
Infertility Unit, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via M. Fanti 6, 20122 Milan, Italy 2Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
3
Correspondence address. Tel: þ 39-02-55034303; Fax: þ 39-02-55034302; E-mail: laurabenaglia@hotmail.it
background: A growing body of evidence suggests that ovarian reserve is damaged after excision of ovarian endometriomas.
However, it may not be excluded that gonadal damage is at least partly caused by the very presence of an endometrioma per se, thus preceding surgery. To clarify this aspect, we set up a prospective study in women with monolateral endometriomas in order to assess the rate of ovulation in affected ovaries. materials and methods: Seventy women with monolateral endometriomas who had not undergone previous adnexal surgery underwent serial ecographic examinations to determine the side of ovulation.
results: Ovulation occurred in the affected ovary in 22 cases (31%; 95% CI: 22–43%). Assuming that the expected rate of ovulation in both ovaries in healthy women is similar, this difference is statistically significant (P ¼ 0.002).
conclusion: The physiological mechanisms leading to ovulation are deranged in ovaries with endometriomas.
Key words: endometriosis / endometrioma / ovulation
Introduction
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of the female population in their fertile years (Eskenazi et al., 2001). Ovarian endometriomas are a common form of the disease and may be present in up to
30 –40% of women with endometriosis (Redwine, 1999; Vercellini et al., 2006).
A growing body of evidence suggests that ovarian reserve is damaged after excision of ovarian endometriomas (Busacca et al.,
2006; Gupta et al.,
Advanced Access publication on June 5, 2009 doi:10.1093/humrep/dep202
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Infertility
Endometriotic ovarian cysts negatively affect the rate of spontaneous ovulation 1
`
Infertility Unit, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via M. Fanti 6, 20122 Milan, Italy 2Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
3
Correspondence address. Tel: þ 39-02-55034303; Fax: þ 39-02-55034302; E-mail: laurabenaglia@hotmail.it
background: A growing body of evidence suggests that ovarian reserve is damaged after excision of ovarian endometriomas.
However, it may not be excluded that gonadal damage is at least partly caused by the very presence of an endometrioma per se, thus preceding surgery. To clarify this aspect, we set up a prospective study in women with monolateral endometriomas in order to assess the rate of ovulation in affected ovaries. materials and methods: Seventy women with monolateral endometriomas who had not undergone previous adnexal surgery underwent serial ecographic examinations to determine the side of ovulation.
results: Ovulation occurred in the affected ovary in 22 cases (31%; 95% CI: 22–43%). Assuming that the expected rate of ovulation in both ovaries in healthy women is similar, this difference is statistically significant (P ¼ 0.002).
conclusion: The physiological mechanisms leading to ovulation are deranged in ovaries with endometriomas.
Key words: endometriosis / endometrioma / ovulation
Introduction
Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of the female population in their fertile years (Eskenazi et al., 2001). Ovarian endometriomas are a common form of the disease and may be present in up to
30 –40% of women with endometriosis (Redwine, 1999; Vercellini et al., 2006).
A growing body of evidence suggests that ovarian reserve is damaged after excision of ovarian endometriomas (Busacca et al.,
2006; Gupta et al.,
References: ovary decreases following laparoscopic cystectomy in infertile women Downloaded from http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/ at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on February 6, 2013 systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2008; Aug 8 [Epub ahead of print]. Submitted on March 27, 2009; resubmitted on May 1, 2009; accepted on May 6, 2009 Downloaded from http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/ at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on February 6, 2013 with unilateral endometrioma during a natural cycle