Ovarian Reserve and Hormone Alteration Following Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the data in the literature on ovarian reserve and ovarian hormone following laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD). The PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases were comprehensively searched using a combination of keywords such as "ovarian reserve", "laparoscopic ovarian drilling", "luteinizing hormone", "follicle-stimulating hormone", "inhibin", "LH/FSH ratio", "ovulation", and "testosterone". All studies involving females of reproductive age who were officially diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and had undergone LOD with reported data concerning at least one of the following parameters were considered for inclusion: ovarian reserve, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), inhibin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH ratio, and testosterone. All the included studies were evaluated by the GRADE scale for bias and their findings were synthesized by four independent coauthors. A total of 38 studies involving 3118 female patients were included. Based on our findings, a significant number of participants experienced spontaneous ovulation along with a significant decrease in ovarian reserve, and a significant decrease in AMH, LH, and testosterone, with no significant changes in FSH and inhibin B. With the end goal of LOD being to improve fertility and pregnancy rates among females with PCOS, it is important to look at the first few steps that enable this. As expected, there was a significant improvement in ovulation while the ovarian reserve decreased. Along with the decrease in ovarian reserve, there was a significant normalization in AMH, LH, and testosterone levels. LOD may exert its main effects through the manipulation of the ovarian reserves.

The effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling in patients with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome and high serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone.

Female infertility is often associated with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by high serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is commonly used to treat PCOS, especially when drug interventions have failed. This study aimed to evaluate the response to LOD intervention in women with PCOS by assessing AMH serum levels and their ability to restore normal physiological menstrual cycle and achieve conception. Seventy-five infertile women (24-41 years old) with body mass index (BMI) ranging from 19.6-35kg/m2 were included in the study. Among them, 57 had primary infertility, and 18 from secondary infertility, with an average duration of 8.6±4.4 years. Baseline levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and AMH were measured, and post-LOD levels of LH and AMH were evaluated. Menstrual cycle regularity was evaluated before and after LOD. Baseline FSH serum level before LOD was 5.2-1.6IU/L. Following LOD, the serum levels of LH and AMH significantly decreased from 14.3±4.1 to 7.8±2.8 IU/L and from 13.7±5.9 to 7.7±3.9 IU/L, respectively (p<0.05). LOD significantly (p<0.05) decreased the menstrual cycles irregularity, such as oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea, from 55 (73.3%) to 22 (29.3%) women and from 2 (2.7%) to 0 (0%) women respectively. Moreover, regular menstrual cycles significantly (p<0.05) increased from 18 (24%) to 53 (70.7%) women. Importantly, 68% of LOD-treated women showed a significant increase in pregnancy rates, with 52.9%, 35.3%, and 11.8% achieving pregnancy within 3, 6, and 9 months after LOD, respectively (p<0.05). Moreover, spontaneous ovulation was observed in 7/75 (9.3%) women within 90 days after LOD, and 71.4% achieved pregnancy. These findings highlight the success of laparoscopic ovarian drilling as an intervention for PCOS, with AMH serving as a reliable test to assess the response to LOD treatment.

Is There Still a Place for Surgery in Patients with PCOS? A Review.

OBJECTIVE: The surgical management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents an unclear option compared to medical therapy, and it is necessary to deepen the role of minimally invasive surgery, represented by laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) and transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL), for the treatment of PCOS in infertile women resistant to drug therapy and to establish its success in terms of ovulation and pregnancy rates. METHODS: A search was performed in the main electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) from 1994 to October 2022 in order to evaluate the role of surgery in patients with PCOS resistant to pharmacological treatment. Only original scientific articles in English were included. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were analyzed in this review. In all analyzed studies, more than 50% of the population underwent spontaneous ovulation after surgical treatment without great differences between the two surgical techniques (LOD and THL). More than 40% of patients delivered, with a higher rate after LOD, although eight ectopic pregnancies and sixty-three miscarriages were reported. A lower risk of adhesion formation after THL has been reported. No clear data regarding the effect of surgery on the regularization of the menstrual cycle has been described. A reduction in LH and AMH serum levels as well as the LH/FSH ratio compared to preoperative levels for both surgical techniques has been described. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the scarcity and heterogeneity of data, surgical therapy could be considered an effective and safe approach in the management of PCOS patients with resistance to pharmacological treatment who desire to become pregnant.

Transvaginal needle versus laparoscopic ovarian drilling in hormonal profile and pregnancy outcomes of polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent hormonal disorder distinguished by a persistent absence of ovulation. Ovarian drilling is a recognized therapeutic approach for PCOS patients who are unresponsive to medication and can be performed through invasive laparoscopic access or less-invasive transvaginal access. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of transvaginal ultrasound -guided ovarian needle drilling with conventional laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) in patients with PCOS. METHODS: PUBMED, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from articles published from inception to January 2023. We include RCTs of PCOS that compared transvaginal ovarian drilling and LOD and reported on ovulation and pregnancy rates as the main outcome variable. We evaluated study quality using the Cochrane Risk of bias 2 tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed and the certainty of the evidence was assessed according to the GRADE approach. We registered the protocol prospectively in PROSPERO (CRD42023397481). RESULTS: Six RCTs including 899 women with PCOS met the inclusion criteria. LOD was found to significantly reduce anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) (SMD: -0.22; 95% CI: -0.38, -0.05; I2 = 39.85%) and antral follicle count (AFC) (SMD: -1.22; 95% CI: -2.26, -0.19; I2 = 97.55%) compared to transvaginal ovarian drilling. Our findings also indicated that LOD significantly increased the ovulation rate by 25% compared to transvaginal ovarian drilling (RR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.54; I2 = 64.58%). However, we found no significant difference between the two groups in terms of follicle stimulating hormone (SMD: 0.04; 95% CI: -0.26, 0.33; I2 = 61.53%), luteinizing hormone (SMD: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.90, 0.77; I2 = 94.92%), and pregnancy rate (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.98; I2 = 50.49%). CONCLUSION: LOD significantly lowers circulating AMH and AFC and significantly increases ovulation rate in PCOS patients compared to transvaginal ovarian drilling. As transvaginal ovarian drillingremains a less-invasive, more cost-effective, and simpler alternative, further studies are warranted to compare these two techniques in large cohorts, with a particular focus on ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcomes.

Anti-mullerian hormone levels before and after ovarian drilling in polycystic ovary syndrome: has this an effect on fertility?

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine, metabolic, and multi-causal disorder in the reproductive period with a possible genetic origin. Women with PCOS are characterized by oligo-ovulation, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Women with PCOS have an increased number of antral follicles. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), a dimeric glycoprotein produced from the granulosa cells of the pre-antral and antral follicles, is elevated in PCOS. AMH has been implicated in two stages of follicle dysfunction that lead to the development of PCOS. The level of AMH decreases following ovarian drilling in patients with PCOS. The present study compared the level of AMH before and after Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) in patients with PCOS and its effect on fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort study was carried out on 84 women with PCOS who underwent LOD in Akbarabadi Hospital in Tehran in 2020. Demographic characteristics, AMH, and estradiol levels were determined before surgery and compared with the amount one week after surgery. The effect of AMH level on pregnancy rate was also evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 29.01 ± 4.01 years. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of the patients was 26.33 ± 4.14 kg/m2. The results showed that the mean AMH level decreased significantly after ovarian drilling (P-value < 0.001). Menstrual cycle distribution was significantly different before and after LOD (P < 0.001). None of the variables had an effect on the pregnancy (P-value > 0.05). Oligomenorrhea in the previous menstrual period might cause AMH levels to increase by 3.826 units after LOD (P-value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Measuring serum AMH concentration before treatment can be a useful tool to predict LOD outcomes. This can help in selecting the patient for treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The project was found to be under the ethical principles and the national norms and standards for conducting research in Iran with the approval ID and issue date of IR.IUMS.FMD.REC.1397.206 and 2018.08.26 respectively, which has been registered with the research project number 2766 in the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Technology Development of Iran University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran. URL: https://ethics. RESEARCH: ac.ir/EthicsProposalView.php?id=34791 .

Metformin With or Without Clomiphene Citrate Versus Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling With or Without Clomiphene Citrate to Treat Patients With Clomiphene Citrate-Resistant Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Which is optimal to treat clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (CCR-PCOS) with LOD or metformin remains a problem. There are three inconsistent or even contradictory views. Objectives: The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Metformin with or without CC and to compare them with LOD with or without CC (Met/Met-CC vs. LOD/LOD-CC) in women with CCR-PCOS who also have anovulation. Data source: The PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched to identify relevant studies reported between 1 Jan 1966 and 31 Aug 2019; the search was updated on 17 May 2022. Study eligibility criteria: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CCR-PCOS that had considered Met/Met-CC and LOD/LOD-CC as the exposure variables and fertility as the main outcome variable. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: We assessed study quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The primary effectiveness outcome was live birth/ongoing pregnancy rate and the primary safety outcome was miscarriage rate. A fixed-effect meta-analysis was performed. The robustness of the results was assessed using sensitivity analyses. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to examine the reasons for heterogeneity. Publication bias was examined using the funnel plot, Egger linear regression, and Begg rank correlation tests. The quality of this meta-analysis was estimated according to the GRADE approach. This meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021240156). Results: Among 71 potentially relevant studies, we included five RCTs in our meta-analysis. We found no difference in effectiveness between Met-CC and LOD in terms of live birth/ongoing pregnancy (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.87-1.21, z = 0.28; p = 0.780), and miscarriage rates (RR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.46-1.36, z = 0.86; p = 0.390). I2 tests results revealed moderate or no heterogeneity (I2 = 51.4%, p = 0.083; I2= 0.0%; p = 0.952). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. Funnel plot, Egger linear regression, and Begg rank correlation tests implied no publication bias (p > 0.05). LOD was more expensive than Met (€1050 vs. €50.16). The evidence quality was moderate. Conclusion: There is no evidence on the difference in the outcomes between the two interventions regarding ovulation, pregnancy, and live birth. As LOD is an invasive procedure and carries inherent risks, the use of Met/Met-CC should be the second-line treatment for women with CCR-PCOS. Systematic Review Registration: identifier CRD42021240156.

Poor Ovarian Response to Gonadotrophins in PCOS Women after Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling.

Background and Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of anovulatory infertility, and ovulation induction is the first-line treatment. If this fails, laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is used to induce mono-ovulations. There have been implications, that LOD can cause destruction of ovarian tissue and therefore premature ovarian failure. Furthermore, unexpected poor ovarian response (POR) to gonadotrophins can occur in PCOS women after LOD. There have been reports about FSH receptor polymorphisms found in women with PCOS that are related to higher serum FSH levels and POR to gonadotrophins. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed data of 144 infertile PCOS women that had LOD performed before IVF. Results: Thirty of included patients (20.8%) had POR (≤3 oocytes) to ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins. Women with POR had significantly higher median levels of basal serum FSH (7.2 (interquartile range (IQR), 6.0-9.2) compared to women with normal ovarian response (6.0 (IQR, 5.0-7.4); p = 0.006). Furthermore, women with POR used a significantly higher median cumulative dose of gonadotrophins (1875 IU (IQR, 1312.5-2400) for ovarian stimulation compared to women with normal ovarian response (1600 IU (IQR, 1200-1800); p = 0.018). Conclusion: Infertile PCOS women who experience POR after LOD have significantly higher serum FSH levels compared to women with normal ovarian response after LOD. As these levels are still within the normal range, we speculate that LOD is not the cause of POR. We presume that women with PCOS and POR after LOD could have FSH-R genotypes associated with POR and higher serum FSH levels.

Decrease in serum anti-Müllerian hormone level per puncture with laparoscopic ovarian drilling using ultrasonically activated device.

PURPOSE: To determine the contributing factor in infertility treatment with laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) to the decrease in serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome using an ultrasonically activated device. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 60 patients (aged 23-36 years) who received 25-120 punctures in each ovary with LOD treatment from January 2014 to December 2018. RESULTS: The mean decrease in serum AMH level per puncture with LOD was 0.07 ± 0.04 ng/ml in all 60 patients and 0.08 ± 0.04 ng/ml in patients with ≥10 ng/ml preoperative serum AMH level, which was significantly higher than in those with <10 ng/ml (0.05 ± 0.02 ng/ml). The mean decrease in serum AMH level per puncture in patients with body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2 (0.10 ± 0.03 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in those with BMI 18.5-25 kg/m2 (0.07 ± 0.04 ng/ml) and >25 kg/m2 (0.06 ± 0.02 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: The mean decrease in serum AMH levels per puncture with LOD using an ultrasonically activated device depends on the preoperative serum AMH level and BMI of patients.

Comparison of the effects of bilateral and unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling on pregnancy rates in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the effects of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) on pregnancy rates in patients with clomiphene citrate (CC) resistant infertile polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 75 patients who were admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Antalya Training and Research Hospital between July 2016 and December 2017 and underwent LOD operation. Among these patients, 37 underwent unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling (ULOD) and 38 underwent bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling (BLOD). The drilling procedure was carried out using the following equation: Number of punctures (np) = 60 J/cm3 /30 watt × 4 s by selecting the larger ovary in the patients who underwent ULOD and by taking the ovarian volume of each ovary in the BLOD group. RESULTS: During the 1-year follow-up, 20 of the ULOD patients (54.1%) and 13 of the BLOD patients (34.2%) were observed to be pregnant. Although a higher number of pregnancies were obtained in the ULOD group, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.083). The pregnancies occurred more in the first 6 months during the postoperative follow-ups of the patients. A total of 14 (70%) of the 20 pregnancies in the ULOD group and 9 (69.2%) of the 13 pregnancies in the BLOD group occurred in the first 6 months. CONCLUSION: ULOD with respect to a larger ovarian volume should be preferred to BLOD for CC-resistant PCOS patients because of the high pregnancy rates and fewer potential side effects.

Molecular Mechanisms of Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling and Its Therapeutic Effects in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy, characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and multiple small subcapsular cystic follicles in the ovary during ultrasonography, and affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is frequently associated with insulin resistance (IR) accompanied by compensatory hyperinsulinemia and, therefore, presents an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The pathophysiology of PCOS is unclear, and many hypotheses have been proposed. Among these hypotheses, IR and hyperandrogenism may be the two key factors. The first line of treatment in PCOS includes lifestyle changes and body weight reduction. Achieving a 5-15% body weight reduction may improve IR and PCOS-associated hormonal abnormalities. For women who desire pregnancy, clomiphene citrate (CC) is the front-line treatment for ovulation induction. Twenty five percent of women may fail to ovulate spontaneously after three cycles of CC treatment, which is called CC-resistant PCOS. For CC-resistant PCOS women, there are many strategies to improve ovulation rate, including medical treatment and surgical approaches. Among the various surgical approaches, one particular surgical method, called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD), has been proposed as an alternative treatment. LOD results in an overall spontaneous ovulation rate of 30-90% and final pregnancy rates of 13-88%. These benefits are more significant for women with CC-resistant PCOS. Although the intra- and post-operative complications and sequelae are always important, we believe that a better understanding of the pathophysiological changes and/or molecular mechanisms after LOD may provide a rationale for this procedure. LOD, mediated mainly by thermal effects, produces a series of morphological and biochemical changes. These changes include the formation of artificial holes in the very thick cortical wall, loosening of the dense and hard cortical wall, destruction of ovarian follicles with a subsequently decreased amount of theca and/or granulosa cells, destruction of ovarian stromal tissue with the subsequent development of transient but purulent and acute inflammatory reactions to initiate the immune response, and the continuing leakage or drainage of "toxic" follicular fluid in these immature and growth-ceased pre-antral follicles. All these factors contribute to decreasing local and systemic androgen levels, the following apoptosis process with these pre-antral follicles to atresia; the re-starting of normal follicular recruitment, development, and maturation, and finally, the normalization of the "hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary" axis and subsequent spontaneous ovulation. The detailed local and systematic changes in PCOS women after LOD are comprehensively reviewed in the current article.

Variation of Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling for Clomiphene Citrate-resistant Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Infertility: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate novel surgical variations of laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) and compare with standard bilateral LOD. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases were searched, including Cochrane database, CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Virtual Health Library, OpenSIGLE, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, and The Chinese Clinical Trial Register in February 2019. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating LOD for patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility and reporting reproductive outcomes, surgical complications, serum indexes, menses resumption, and ultrasound results were included. Quality and risk of bias were evaluated by 2 authors, respectively. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: A total of 20 RCTs with 1615 patients were included. Evaluation of the quality of evidence for each study was based on each study's limitations of 5 outcome domains described by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation and found to be moderate to very low. Live births were only reported by 4 studies. Unilateral LOD did not differ with bilateral LOD in reproductive outcomes, such as pregnancy (p = .11, I2 = 75%), ovulation (p = .08, I2 = 0%), miscarriage (p = .61), and menstruation resumption (p = .06). There was insufficient evidence regarding efficacy and safety of novel methods of LOD, such as transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (1 RCT) and micro-LOD (3 RCTs). Evidence regarding the suitable number of ovarian punctures, duration of drilling, and antimüllerian hormone or antral follicle numbers following LOD were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Unilateral LOD seems to be suitable replacement for conventional bilateral LOD for clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome, although more studies involving long-term reproductive efficacy, adverse events, and varying forms of LOD are warranted.

Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling Reduces Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone/Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Ratio and Improves Clinical Outcome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is one of the common modes of treatment for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who are resistant to clomiphene citrate. The data related to the effect of LOD on sex hormones are limited. AIM: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of LOD on hormonal parameters and clinical outcomes in women with PCOS. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty PCOS patients who were admitted for LOD were enrolled in the study. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were estimated in all the patients before and after LOD. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Paired t-test was used to assess the differences in hormonal parameters before and after LOD. RESULTS: LOD reduces testosterone (P < 0.001), LH (P < 0.001), and LH/FSH ratio (P < 0.001), increases FSH (P < 0.001) levels, and improves the rate of ovulation (38/50) and clinical pregnancy (21/50) in PCOS. When subgroup analysis was done, LOD significantly reduced testosterone and LH/FSH ratio in ovulatory and conceived groups. Furthermore, the menstrual cycle became regular, and hirsutism and acne were reduced after LOD in women with PCOS. CONCLUSIONS: LOD reduces testosterone and LH/FSH ratio and improves clinical outcome in PCOS.

Letrozole versus laparoscopic ovarian drilling in clomiphene citrate-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The objective of this systematic review was to examine the literature and to compare the effectiveness of letrozole (LE) versus laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) for the induction of ovulation in women with clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched systematically for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from English language articles published from database inception to September 2018. Data were independently extracted and analyzed using the fixed-effects model or random-effects model according to the heterogeneity of the data. Four RCTs including 621 patients (309 in the LE group and 312 in the LOD group) met the inclusion criteria. There were no differences with regard to ovulation rate (relative risk [RR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93 to 1.34; P = 0.12, I2 = 90%, 541 patients, three studies), pregnancy rate (RR 1.21; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.53; P = 0.12, I2 = 0%, 621 patients, four studies), live birth rate (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.68; P = 0.09, I2 = 19%, 541 patients, three studies), and abortion rate (RR 0.7; 95% CI 0.3 to 1.61; P = 0.40, I2 = 0%, 621 patients, four studies) between the two groups. These results indicated that LE and LOD appear to be equally effective in achieving live birth rate in patients with CC-resistant PCOS.

Vaginal ultrasound-guided ovarian needle puncture compared to laparoscopic ovarian drilling in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcomes in PCOS women undergoing transvaginal ovarian injury (TVOI) and laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) DESIGN: 126 infertile patients with PCOS were included in this prospective cohort study CANADIAN TASK FORCE CLASSIFICATION OF LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IIA. SETTING: University-affiliated fertility center. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven infertile patients with the history of failed in vitro maturation underwent follow-up as the TVOI group. Fifty-nine infertile women who underwent LOD acted as controls. All subjects had PCOS with menstrual irregularity and were anovulatory by repetitive serum progesterone levels. INTERVENTIONS: The LOD group underwent six cauterizations of a single ovary with 30W for 4-6 s. Failed IVM subjects with 20-30 needle punctures per ovary acted as the TVOI group. Subjects were followed for six months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was not a significant difference between the groups when the cases were evaluated in terms of spontaneous pregnancy or miscarriage rates. BMI levels decreased in both the TVOI and the LOD groups in a similar fashion. However, serum AMH and AFC decreased greater after LOD than they did with TVOI over the six-month duration of the study (p < 0.001 in both cases). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data suggest that TVOI likely represents a safer, less costly and equally effective manner of surgical ovulation induction in anovulatory PCOS women when compared to LOD.

Changes in ovarian reserve and ovarian blood flow in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome following laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

This prospective cohort study was conducted on 80 patients with clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD). Pre- and post-LOD ovarian reserve parameters (anti-Mullerian hormone: AMH, ovarian volume: OV, and antral follicle count: AFC) and ovarian stromal blood flow indices (Vascularization index: VI, flow index: FI, and vascularization flow index: VFI) were measured to explore the effect of LOD and to find out the correlation between serum AMH and different clinical, hormonal, and ultrasonic variables. There was a highly significant reduction of the serum AMH (p < .001) after LOD with significant reduction in OV, AFC and vascular indices (VI, FI and VFI) of the right and left ovaries (p < .05). LOD significantly reduced ovarian reserve parameters (AMH, OV and AFC) and ovarian stromal blood flow indices (VI, FI and VFI) with no observed correlation between AMH levels and Doppler indices.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling reduces serum homocysteine levels in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) on homocysteine levels and clinical outcomes in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted in JIPMER, Puducherry. Fifty PCOS subjects who were admitted for LOD were enrolled in the study. Serum homocysteine levels were estimated in all the subjects before and after LOD. Paired t-test was used to compare the homocysteine levels before and after LOD. RESULTS: LOD reduces homocysteine levels (p < .001), improves the rate of ovulation (38/50) and clinical pregnancy (21/50) in PCOS. When subgroup analysis was done, LOD significantly reduced homocysteine levels in ovulatory and conceived groups. Between the conceived and non conceived groups, the reduction was more significant (p = 0.001) in conceived group, when compared with non conceived group. CONCLUSIONS: LOD reduces homocysteine levels and improves clinical outcome in PCOS.

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling Using Thermal Dose Adjusted According to Ovarian Volume in CC-Resistant PCOS, A Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling versus bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume in clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant PCOS patients in terms of endocrine changes, menstrual cycle resumption, ovulation and pregnancy rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagazig university hospitals. One hundred CC-resistant PCOS patients were divided into two groups. Group (I) (50 patients) underwent unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume (60 J/cm3 of ovarian tissue), and group (II) (50 patients) underwent bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling using the same previously mentioned thermal dose. Endocrinal changes and menstrual cycle resumption were assessed within 8 weeks postoperatively, but the ovulation and pregnancy rates were estimated after 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups as regards demographic data (p > 0.05). As regards menstruation cycle resumption (62.5 vs. 81%) (p = 0.047), total ovulation rate (54.2 vs. 78.7%) (p = 0.011) and cumulative pregnancy rate (33.3 vs. 55.3%) (p = 0.031), there was statistically significant difference between both groups. After drilling, there were highly statistically significant decrease in the mean serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and significant decrease in the mean serum levels of testosterone in both groups. Mean serum level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) did not change significantly in both groups after drilling. CONCLUSION: Bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume is more effective than the right-sided unilateral technique with thermal dose adjusted according to ovarian volume in terms of menstrual cycle resumption, ovulation and cumulative pregnancy rates in CC-resistant PCOS patients.

Serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels after ovarian drilling for the second-line treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot-randomized study comparing laparoscopy and transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy.

Aim of the study was to asses and compare serum anti-Mullerian harmone (AMH) levels after laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) and transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) ovarian drilling in clomifene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients; secondary outcome was to evaluate postoperative pain to estimate the acceptability of procedures. A total of 246 patients with CC-resistant PCOS were randomized into two groups: 123 underwent LOD and 123 underwent THL ovarian drilling. AMH serum levels were evaluated before and after the procedure; moreover, women were asked to rate pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 (no pain, perfectly acceptable) to 10 (unbearable pain, completely unacceptable). In both groups, postoperative serum AMH levels were significantly reduced compared to preoperative levels (6.06 ± 1.18 and 5.84 ± 1.16 versus 5.00 ± 1.29 and 4.83 ± 1.10; p < 0.0001). Comparing postoperative serum AMH levels, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two surgical technique. After the procedure, mean pain VAS score was significantly higher for women who underwent LOD ovarian drilling in comparison to THL (3.26 ± 1.1 versus 1.11 ± 0.5; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, THL ovarian drilling is comparable to the LOD in terms of reduction in AMH, but it is preferred by patients in terms of acceptability. These results could support to use of THL ovarian drilling in the treatment of patients with CC- resistant PCOS.

Hormonal Changes After Laparoscopic Ovarian Diathermy in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY: To assess the changes in hormonal profile (serum FSH, LH, prolactin and total testosterone) following laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with PCOS have been included in this study. Serum prolactin, total testosterone, follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels have been used as biochemical markers, before and after procedures. RESULTS: Laparoscopic ovarian drilling was successfully employed without any surgical complications and on an average follow-up time of 24 weeks after the procedure. During the follow-up serum values for prolactin, total testosterone and LH have decreased significantly and FSH levels remained unchanged after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The LOD in patients with PCOS may avoid or reduce the risk of OHSS and the multiple pregnancy rate induced by gonadotropin therapy. The high pregnancy rate and the economic aspect of the procedure offer an attractive management for patients with PCOS. However, LOD can be considered as second-line treatment after clomiphene citrate treatment failure and/or resistance.

Effects of previous ovarian drilling on cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates among patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if history of undergoing laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) was associated with changes in cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates following in-vitro fertilization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: The present retrospective study was performed in an in vitro fertilization unit in Xiamen, China, between June 1, 2008 and December 31, 2012. Patient characteristics and in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes were compared between patients with PCOS and a history of LOD (LOD group), patients with PCOS without a history of LOD (no-LOD group), and age-matched patients without PCOS and with no history of LOD (age-matched group). RESULTS: The study included 110 patients in the LOD group, 127 patients in the no-LOD group, and 990 patients in the age-matched group. A lower number of retrieved oocytes, fewer available embryos, and a lower number of cryopreserved embryos were observed in among patients in the LOD-group compared with the other groups (P≤0.001). No differences in birth rates following fresh embryo transfers were observed between the LOD-group, and the age-matched group (P=0.274) and the no-LOD group (P=0.120). A higher adjusted odds ratio of cumulative pregnancy per initiated in vitro fertilization cycle was observed in the no-LOD group when compared with the LOD group (1.976; 95% confidence interval 1.091-3.580). CONCLUSION: LOD could compromise cumulative ongoing pregnancy rates during subsequent in vitro fertilization.