AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) is produced by the granulosa cells of the ovary, regulates folliculogenesis and its levels are believed to accurately reflect the ovarian reserve. Various studies have suggested that patients with endometriosis have lower AMH levels compared to those without (controls). Furthermore, surgery for endometriosis may (at least temporarily) impact on AMH levels. So, what does the actual evidence…
Superficial endometriosis is linked to infertility. Laparoscopic management of superficial endometriosis improves fecundity rates, particularly natural conception rates, in appropriately selected patients. On the other hand, laparoscopy cannot be routinely recommended in all cases of unexplained infertility, particularly if there are no symptoms of co-existent pelvic pain, neither can it be routinely recommended routinely prior to planned in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).…
Is there a link between age at diagnosis of endometriosis and disease severity? What does research suggest? In this article, I am reviewing a relevant paper by Comptour et al. (1), a prospective study with data collected between 2004 and 2012, aiming to identify a possible correlation between age at diagnosis and severity of endometriosis. In this study, 964…
Voiding dysfunction after complex deep endometriosis surgery is probably one of the less recognised complications of this type of surgery. Certain locations of deep endometriosis (eg. Parametrium, uterosacral ligaments, sacral plexus), when excised, may be linked to higher risk of voiding dysfunction post-operatively. This may be due to inadvertent injury to the innervation of the bladder during surgical excision…
Endometriosis is a common, benign gynecological disease that is usually associated with pain and/or infertility. It appears likely that chronic inflammation, that is typical of endometriosis lesions, plays a role in chronic pain as well as infertility. It is, therefore, logical to ask if there is a possible link between the severity of endometriosis symptoms and the outcomes of artificial…
It is not uncommon that patients suffering from endometriosis are advised by their doctor to get pregnant in order to ‘’cure’’ (or at least manage the symptoms of) endometriosis. Pregnancy itself is not a cure for endometriosis, however, we often neglect the impact this advice may have on the patients’ mental health and overall experience. Discussing conception is a…
Adenomyosis is a common gynecological disease associated with heavy, painful periods as well as infertility. Recent advances in imaging methods allow us to diagnose adenomyosis with conventional, transvaginal ultrasound, opening new horizons in the application of novel management methods. Are there, however, certain criteria based on which we can confidently diagnose adenomyosis by ultrasound? Although in many cases, diagnosis…
According to a new study, patients operated for recurrent endometrioma had more deep endometriosis lesions and more severe disease, compared to those with no previous endometrioma surgery.
The most comprehensive study on the risk of repeat surgery for endometriosis was only recently published, suggesting a risk of up to 28% during the first 10 years after complete excision of endometriosis. What is also interesting is that performing a hysterectomy at the time of first surgery, as well as achieving a post-operative pregnancy, were found to be independent, protective factors against repeat surgery. The mean time between primary and repeat surgery in this study was 46 months (1).
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced mostly as a result of exposure to UV light and regulates the levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood (1). Except its role in bone health, studies have demonstrated its role in human reproduction, with 15% of subfertile couples having low vitamin D levels (2), as well in regulation of inflammation,…
EN 
GR