Follicular fluid lipid peroxidation levels in women with endometriosis during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Abstract

This observational study aimed to establishing a relationship between lipid peroxidation and endometriosis in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. A total of 79 women were divided into two groups: (i) controls (tubal or male factor); and (ii) endometriosis (stages III/IV). The endometriosis diagnosis was confirmed by videolaparoscopy and the controlled ovarian stimulation protocol was similar to all patients. Follicular fluid (FF) lipid peroxidation levels were determined through the quantification of malondialdehyde. Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and non-parametric tests, logistic regression was performed to estimate the chance of achieving a pregnancy in each group and a moving average was calculated for the endometriosis group. Peroxidation levels in the endometriosis group were significantly higher when compared to controls. The moving average showed a decrease of MDA levels in the endometriosis group with increasing female age. Moreover, women with endometriosis who were under 33 years of age were 4.3 times more likely to achieve a pregnancy than women above that age. In conclusion, endometriosis is associated with increased FF oxidative stress (OS) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Also, increasing age is associated with a decrease in severity of the oxidative status, but a decreased chance of pregnancy.

Keywords:

• Endometriosis
• oxidative stress
• TBARS
• follicular fluid

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for providing funding for the research and a scholarship to Ms. Bruna de Lima. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.