Decreased anti-Müllerian hormone and altered ovarian follicular cohort in infertile patients with mild/minimal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the ovarian reserve and follicular cohort of infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Patients were divided into two groups: group I, minimal/mild endometriosis and group II, tubal obstruction. The following exclusion criteria were established: [1] patients with previous endocrine disorders; and [2] cases in which the cause for infertility was other than endometriosis (except for patients with tubal obstruction, in the control group).


METHODS
Serum FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone were measured on day 3. On the same day all patients were submitted to transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate the antral follicular count and the ovarian follicular cohort.


METHODS
Serum FSH, anti-Müllerian hormone, and the follicular cohort with the respective antral follicular count.


RESULTS
Serum FSH were not different between the groups. However, infertile patients with endometriosis have a decreased serum anti-Müllerian hormone (1.26 +/- 0.7 ng/mL) compared to the control group (2.02 +/- 0.72 ng/mL). The analysis of follicular cohort showed that the number of selectable follicles were similar, but the follicular diameter was different.


CONCLUSIONS
Minimal/mild endometriosis is associated with a decrease in the follicular ovarian reserve. In addition, the follicular cohort of these patients is more heterogeneous in comparison to the control group.
Lemos
Nadiane Albuquerque
NA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Arbo
Elisangela
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Scalco
Renata
R
Unit of Biochemichemistry, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Weiler
Eduardo
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Rosa
Virginia
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Cunha-Filho
João Sabino
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Electronic address: sabino@via-rs.net.
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone