The cycle pregnancy rate is normal in baboons with stage I endometriosis but decreased in primates with stage II and stage III-IV disease.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that fertility is reduced in baboons with endometriosis.


METHODS
Prospective controlled follow-up study.


METHODS
Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi Kenya.


METHODS
Seventy-one baboons, including 34 controls (normal pelvis) and 37 animals with histologically proven endometriosis (16 spontaneous and 21 induced). Baboons with endometriosis had minimal (n = 9), mild (n = 14), moderate (n = 7), or severe (n = 7) disease.


METHODS
Seventy-one baboons were mated during 286 cycles.


METHODS
Cycle fecundity rate, cycle pregnancy rate, cycle abortion rate.


RESULTS
Cycle pregnancy rate (excluding spontaneous abortions) was 15% (44/286) and was comparable between controls (19%, 20/104) and baboons with endometriosis (13%, 24/182). The cycle pregnancy rates were 24%, 10%, 7.5%, and 12.5% in animals with minimal, mild, moderate, and severe endometriosis, respectively. The cycle pregnancy rate was significantly lower in baboons with stage III-IV endometriosis (9%, 6/64) and with stage II disease (10%, 7/73) than in animals with stage I endometriosis (24%, 11/45) or in controls with a normal pelvis (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
The normal cycle pregnancy rate in baboons with stage I endometriosis and the decreased cycle pregnancy rate in baboons with stage II and stage III-IV disease suggest that fertility decreases with the stage of endometriosis in baboons.
Department of Reproduction, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya.
T M
TM
D'Hooghe
C S
CS
Bambra
B M
BM
Raeymaekers
A M
AM
Riday
M A
MA
Suleman
P R
PR
Koninckx
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary; D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D010215:Papio; D011247:Pregnancy