Human Reproduction

BACKGROUND: There is a need for a reliable marker of endometriosis, especially in early stages of peritoneal disease during which imaging is not effective. The use of serum interleukin (IL)-6 as a marker is controversial. To readdress the m…

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) associated enzyme that prevents oxidative modification o…

Adenomyosis is a non-neoplastic condition characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrium in the myometrium with hyperplasia of adjacent smooth muscle. Common symptoms in women include debilitating pelvic pain and abnormal uterine blee…

BACKGROUND: Due to dietary exposure of women to genistein, a soy-derived phytoestrogen, and the estrogen responsiveness of uterine leiomyomas 'fibroids', we evaluated the effects of genistein (0.001-50 microg/ml) on human uterine leiomyoma …

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test whether the signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) gene influences the risk of developing endometriosis. METHODS: The single-nucleotide polymorphism, G2964A, in the 3'-untran…

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have shown an increased cancer risk among women with endometriosis, especially ovarian cancer. Infertility and nulliparity are also known risk factors for different types of cancer. The aim of thi…

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulus of angiogenesis potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between the single …

BACKGROUND: Women with endometriosis may have higher rates of autoimmune disorders, including hypothyroidism. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) between wom…

Unexplained infertility (UI) refers to a diagnosis made in couples in whom standard investigations including semen analysis, tests of ovulation and tubal patency are normal. It has been suggested that the term UI is unsustainable, as condit…

BACKGROUND: An immune-mediated defect in recognition and elimination of endometrial fragments refluxed in the peritoneal cavity has been hypothesized to play a crucial role in endometriosis development. Since vitamin D is an effective modul…

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis is tested that there is a strong association between endometriosis and adenomyosis and that adenomyosis plays a role in causing infertility in women with endometriosis. METHODS. Magnetic resonance imaging of the u…

BACKGROUND: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a widely accepted treatment for unexplained and male subfertility. No consensus exists about the drug of first choice to be used as hyperstimulation. Th…

BACKGROUND: The association between lesion type, disease stage and severity of pain was studied in a large group of women with endometriosis to verify whether endometrial implants at different sites determine specific complaints and to eval…

BACKGROUND: Most of the current medical treatments for endometriosis aim to down-regulate the estrogen activity. However, a high recurrence rate after medical treatments has been the most significant problem. Beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin …

BACKGROUND: To compare the clinical results and the cost-effectiveness of using the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, in conjunction with FSH and FSH alone for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients undergoing intrauterine inseminat…

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to test whether the COMT, CYP1A1 and CYP17 genes influence the risk of developing adenomyosis and endometriosis. METHODS: We conducted two case-control studies, where the cases (n = 198) had either of t…

BACKGROUND: Among subjects with endometriosis and deep dyspareunia (DD), those with endometriosis of the uterosacral ligament (USLE) have the most severe impairment of sexual function. This study examines the effect of laparoscopic excision…

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether knowledge of the anatomical distribution of histologically proven deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) lesions contributes to understanding the pathogenesis. METHODS: Observational study between June 1…

BACKGROUND: The association between uterine myoma and infertility is still controversial. The anatomical defect of endometrium by uterine fibroids could be a factor for reducing pregnancy rates and increasing miscarriage rates. However, pre…

BACKGROUND: Chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In the present study, the transcription of 18 chemokine receptors in eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue with endometriosis was first analysed by RT-PCR.…

BACKGROUND: An increase in the level of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production has been reported in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of endometriosis patients. This suggests that changes in the vascular permeability and angiogene…

BACKGROUND: Several observations of the coexistence of endometriosis and cancer have been published. One study concerning endometriosis patients from 1969 to 1986 showed an overall relative cancer risk of 1.2 and relative risks for breast c…

The baboon is an established model for endometriosis research. This report describes the occurrence of spontaneous endometriosis involving the ileocaecal junction and associated regional lymph nodes in the baboon. All endometriotic foci lac…

BACKGROUND: Thiols are scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We aim to investigate associations between thiols in various fluids in (sub)fertile couples and fertility outcome parameters. METHODS: In 156 couples undergoing assisted r…

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a disease where endometrial tissue implants in ectopic locations. Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a prerequisite for the implantation of this tissue to be possible. METHODS: In this study, we d…