Increased incidence of aberrant morphological phenotypes in human embryogenesis--an association with endometriosis.

PURPOSE

After noticing specific aberrant forms of development in preimplantation embryos from women with endometriosis, we embarked upon this study in order to examine the frequency of these events as compared with controls.

METHODS

A total of 235 embryos representing 30 women undergoing 56 cycles of in vitro fertilization were retrospectively analyzed on videotape and placed into categories based upon the incidence of specific morphological criteria found during observations made on the first and second days following oocyte retrieval.

RESULTS

Several of the aberrant nuclear and cytoplasmic events were found to be statistically increased in the group of embryos from women with endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of defined aberrant phenotypes in embryos from women with laparoscopically documented endometriosis may allow us to identify specific embryotoxic events with reference to endometriosis and other diagnoses.