title: Effect of ovarian endometrioma on uterine and ovarian blood flow in infertile women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis has been found to be among the most important factors in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The formation of new blood vessels is critical for the survival of newly implanted endometriotic foci. The use of 3-D power Doppler allows for the demonstration of the dynamic vascular changes that occur during the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF). We aimed to evaluate the effect of ovarian endometrioma on uterine and ovarian blood flow in infertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study at a university teaching hospital, 138 women with unilateral ovarian endometrioma scheduled for IVF were compared to 138 women with male-factor or unexplained infertility. In the mid-luteal (peri-implantation) phase of the cycle, endometrial thickness, uterine and ovarian artery pulsatility index and resistance index, endometrial and ovarian volume, 3-D power Doppler vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization FI (VFI) values were measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in endometrial thickness, uterine ovarian artery pulsatility index and resistance index, endometrial and ovarian volume, or VI, FI, and VFI between the two groups. Furthermore, the endometrial and ovarian Doppler indices were not influenced by endometrioma size. No significant differences were observed in the ovarian Doppler indices between endometrioma-containing ovaries and contralateral ovaries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ovarian endometrioma is not associated with impaired endometrial and ovarian blood flows in infertile women scheduled for IVF, and it is not likely to affect endometrial receptivity or ovarian function through a vascular mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Akmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Mazny
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wafaa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gad-Allah
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Suzy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hussein
keywords: 3-D power Doppler; IVF; endometrioma; uterine and ovarian blood flow