title: Increased basal FSH levels as predictors of low-quality follicles in infertile women with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and the numbers of dominant follicles, oocytes, and mature oocytes retrieved after ovarian stimulation differed between infertile women with endometriosis and healthy women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 77 consecutive ART candidates, 27 were infertile and had endometriosis. A male factor caused the infertility of the other 50, who acted as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AMH and AFC levels were similar in the 2 groups. The FSH levels were higher (8.28 mIU/mL [range, 5.25-24.1 mIU/mL] vs 5.91 mIU/mL [range, 2.47-18.7 mIU/mL]; P<0.01) in the study group. And the numbers of retrieved (n=5 [range, 0-12] vs n=9 [range, 0-27; P<0.05) and mature oocytes (n=4 [range, 0-11] vs n=5 [range, 0-16]; P<0.05) were less in the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because AMH levels were unchanged, endometriosis seems not to damage the primordial pool of follicles and oocytes, but to lessen the quality of the ovarian response to the hCG injection. Basal FSH levels may be of value in predicting ART success in women with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Service of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. bruno@genesis.med.br
authors.forename: Bruno Ramalho
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Japur de Sá
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rosa-e-Silva
authors.forename: Júlio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rosa-e-Silva
authors.forename: Rosana Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Rui Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
authors.forename: Marcos Felipe
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Silva-de-Sá
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone