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The frequency of ovulation from the affected ovary decreases following laparoscopic cystectomy in infertile women with unilateral endometrioma during a natural cycle

  • Infertility
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the cystectomy-induced damage on the follicular growth and ovulation of an affected ovary during natural cycles.

Methods

Twenty-eight infertile patients with unilateral ovarian endometriomas who underwent laparoscopic cystectomy were retrospectively evaluated. The ovulation rate of an affected ovary during natural cycles was compared before and after cystectomy in each patient, and it was also determined if ovulation from the affected ovaries resulted in pregnancy.

Results

After surgery, the ovulation rate was significantly lower than that before cystectomy (16.9 ± 4.5% vs. 34.4 ± 6.6%, P = 0.013). After surgery, 14 pregnancies were achieved without IVF treatment, and only 2 of them (14.3%) were achieved from an operated-side ovary. However, the pregnancy rate per ovulatory cycle of the operated-side ovary was not different from that of the intact ovary (8.8% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.750).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic cystectomy is an invasive treatment in that it reduces the frequency of ovulation; however the pregnancy rate per ovulation did not deteriorate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Perinatal Medicine and Maternal Care, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1, Okura, Setagaya, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan

    Takashi Horikawa, Koji Nakagawa, Shirei Ohgi, Rieko Kojima, Akira Nakashima, Megumu Ito, Yuji Takahashi & Hidekazu Saito

Authors
  1. Takashi Horikawa
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  2. Koji Nakagawa
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  3. Shirei Ohgi
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  4. Rieko Kojima
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  5. Akira Nakashima
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  6. Megumu Ito
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  7. Yuji Takahashi
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  8. Hidekazu Saito
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takashi Horikawa.

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Capsule

The frequency of ovulation in an affected ovary was significantly reduced after laparoscopic endometriomal cystectomy; however, the pregnancy rate per ovulation was unaffected by cystectomy.

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Horikawa, T., Nakagawa, K., Ohgi, S. et al. The frequency of ovulation from the affected ovary decreases following laparoscopic cystectomy in infertile women with unilateral endometrioma during a natural cycle. J Assist Reprod Genet 25, 239–244 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9229-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9229-y

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