Follicular-fluid anti-Müllerian hormone concentration is similar in patients with endometriosis compared with non-endometriotic patients

Abstract

This cross-sectional prospective study assessed follicular-fluid anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations in infertile patients with mild/minimal endometriosis during natural IVF. Thirty-two women participated in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: tubal obstruction without endometriosis (control group) and minimal/mild endometriosis (study group). All patients underwent laparoscopy for assessment of infertility; at the same time, any foci of endometriosis found were cauterized. AMH concentration was measured in the follicular fluid of a single follicle when it achieved pre-ovulatory maturation by ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Likewise, AMH, FSH and inhibin B content in serum was also measured. Age (30 ± 1.3 and 32 ± 0.8 years) and body mass index (22 ± 0.6 and 22 ± 0.5 kg/m(2)), day-3 antral follicle count (11.3 ± 1.7 and 10.7 ± 1.5), serum FSH concentrations (5.4 ± 0.6 and 5.0 ± 0.3 IU/ml) and follicular-fluid AMH concentrations (1.8 ± 0.3 and 1.5 ± 0.1 ng/ml, study and control group, respectively; mean difference 0.33, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.88) were similar in both groups. This study shows that infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis have a similar concentration of AMH in the follicular fluid after natural IVF as compared with control subjects.

Women with reduced ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age have an altered follicular environment

“…However, AMH expression still exists in CCs of the preovulatory follicle with lower expression in GCs, suggesting that these cells still have the capacity to secrete AMH into the FF at these later stages of folliculogenesis (37). Previous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between FF AMH concentration andsuccessful oocyte fertilization, suggesting that AMH production and activity is reduced in GCs and CCs from these patients (8,37,38). Andersen et al (39) reported that FF FSH can act as a negative regulator of AMH expression; however, in the present study FF FSH and LH concentrations were not different between the groups.…”

Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels before Surgery in Patients with Ovarian Endometriomas Compared to Other Benign Ovarian Cysts

“…Shebl et al 15 demonstrated the association between low serum AMH levels and severity of women with endometriosis. In addition, Campos et al 16 showed that patients with minimal to mild endometriosis have similar follicular-fluid AMH concentrations during natural in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, as patients with tubal obstruction without endometriosis. Pacchiarotti et al 17 reported that serum AMH levels are reduced in women with endometriosis who have never undergone ovarian surgery, suggesting a state of poor ovarian reserve.…”

Preoperative Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone Level in Women with Ovarian Endometrioma and Mature Cystic Teratoma

“…Moreover, further research suggested similarities in ovarian reserve in infertility patients with minimal/mild endometriosis compared to patients with tubal obstruction 9. Although a few studies have set out to compare serum AMH level in women with endometrioma and controls before surgery, they have yet to find significant reductions in serum AMH levels in women with endometrioma prior to surgery 10-12…”