Endometriomas as a possible cause of reduced ovarian reserve in women with endometriosis

Michio Kitajima, Kitajima M, Sylvie Defrère, Defrère S, Dolmans MM, Marie-Madeleine Dolmans, Marie‐Madeleine Dolmans, Sébastien Colette, Colette S, Sebastien Colette, Squifflet J, Jean Squifflet, Van Langendonckt A, Anne Van Langendonckt, Donnez J, Jacques Donnez
Fertility and sterility · 2011 · vol. 96(3) , pp. 685–691 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.06.064 · PMID:21802672 · W2121198873
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This study investigates whether endometriomas contribute to diminished ovarian reserve in women diagnosed with endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the adverse effects of endometriomas on ovarian reserve.DesignAnalysis of prospectively collected biopsy samples.SettingGynecology research unit in a university hospital.Patient(s)Women younger than age 35 years with endometriomas.Intervention(s)Biopsy of normal cortex from ovaries affected by endometriomas (≤4 cm) and contralateral ovaries without cysts.Main outcome measure(s)Presence of cortex-specific stroma, observation of superficial endometriosis, follicular density, and presence of fibrosis.Result(s)Twenty samples of cortical tissue from ovaries with endometriomas and 11 from contralateral ovaries without cysts were analyzed. Follicular density was significantly lower in cortex from ovaries with endometriomas than in cortex from contralateral ovaries without cysts (mean ± SD = 6.3 ± 4.1/mm(3) vs 25.1 ± 15.0/mm(3)). Eleven (55%) cortical samples from ovaries with endometriomas showed fibrosis and concomitant loss of cortex-specific stroma, not observed in contralateral normal ovaries. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of endometrioma and fibrosis were significantly and independently associated with follicular density.Conclusion(s)Endometriotic cyst formation and associated structural tissue alterations in apparently normal ovarian cortex may be a cause of reduced ovarian reserve. Early diagnosis and intervention may be beneficial in women with endometriomas to protect their ovarian function.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Ovary Adult Biopsy Cell Count Cell Count Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility, Female Lymphokines Models, Biological Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Ovary Prospective Studies

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