The effect of laparoscopic excisional and ablative surgery on ovarian reserve in patients with endometriomas: A retrospective study

This study investigates the effect of 2 laparoscopic methods on ovarian reserve in patients of reproductive age with endometriomas. This was a retrospective study performed at a tertiary medical center from Jan 1(st) to Dec 31(st), 2016. Laparoscopic cystectomy (group 1, 46 patients) and laparoscopic ovarian drainage and ablation with bipolar coagulation at low power (group 2, 30 patients) were performed to treat endometriomas larger than 3 cm. Anti-Müllerian hormone was used to assess ovarian reserve before and after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in patients’ baseline clinical characteristics, endometriotic stage, operative time, and follow-up time between the groups. The mean serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentration decreased significantly from 4.25 ng/ml to 3.40 ng/ml in group 1 compared with 4.47 ng/ml to 3.95 ng/ml in group 2 (P = .04). Pregnancy rates were 71.05% in group 1 and 73.08% in group 2, with a mean follow-up of 30.40 months and 32.35 months (P > .99), respectively. Although there was no statistical significance, the recurrence rate in group 1 was lower than that in group 2 (4.35% vs 16.67%, respectively; P = .11). The mean diameter of recurrent cysts was 1.75 cm in group 1 and 1.54 cm in group 2 (P = .13). Appropriate laparoscopic electrocautery of the endometrioma wall with a bipolar instrument may be a valid alternative to traditional laparoscopic cystectomy, with less effects on ovarian reserve.