Loh F H, Tan A T, Kumar J, Ng S C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Fertil Steril. 1999 Aug;72(2):316-21. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00207-1.
To investigate the follicular response of ovaries after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometriotic cysts.
A retrospective, controlled study.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of a university hospital.
PATIENT(S): Patients with history of infertility who had laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometriotic cysts.
INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, transvaginal ultrasound monitoring of follicles in natural cycles, stimulated cycles using clomiphene citrate (CC), chronic low-dose FSH, and "flare down" regimen.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicular response of postcystectomy and normal ovaries.
RESULT(S): For women < 35 years of age, the mean follicular response of postcystectomy ovaries was reduced significantly when compared with normal ovaries in natural cycles (0.30 versus 1.00 follicle per cycle) and in CC-stimulated cycles (0.87 versus 1.27 follicles per cycle). The mean follicular response was not statistically significantly different when the ovaries were stimulated with chronic low-dose FSH or with the flare down regimen. For women > or = 35 years, postcystectomy ovaries responded with a comparable number of follicles as the normal ovaries in natural cycles and the three different ovarian stimulation regimens.
CONCLUSION(S): Postcystectomy ovaries showed reduced follicular response in natural and CC-stimulated cycles for women < 35 years of age. Postcystectomy ovaries produced a comparable number of follicles as normal ovaries when stimulated with gonadotropins.
