Effect of age and stage of endometriosis on ovarian follicular loss during laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the risk factors associated with inadvertent follicular loss during laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma.

METHODS

Between April 2008 and April 2010, 114 patients who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma were enrolled in the study. Clinical data were collected, together with a retrospective review of medical records. Ovarian follicular loss and the thickness of the cystic wall removed were evaluated by pathologic slide review.

RESULTS

Ovarian follicular loss was more frequently observed among younger patients (P < 0.001) and those with stage 3 endometriosis than among those with stage 4 (P = 0.027), in addition to having an inverse correlation with age (P < 0.001). The thickness of the removed ovarian tissue correlated with inadvertent follicular loss (P < 0.001); however, there was no correlation between any clinical parameter tested and the thickness of the removed ovarian tissue. There was a correlation between ovarian follicular loss and the thickness of the removed ovarian tissue among patients younger than 40 years (P < 0.001), but not among patients aged 40 years or older (P = 0.123).

CONCLUSION

Ovarian follicular loss was more common among younger patients and patients with lower-stage endometriosis. The thickness of the removed ovarian tissue did not differ among patients, despite varying clinical factors.