Study Objective: To compare ovarian reserve markers of women with and without superficial endometriosis.

Design: A case control study.

Setting: A tertiary medical center.

Patients or Participants: The study group included women aged 18-40 with surgically and histopathology proven superficial endometriosis with no deep lesions or ovarian involvement. The control group included women with no known or suspected endometriosis. The control group was matched to the study group by age, BMI and parity. We excluded women with other known risk factors for ovarian failure and with other gynecological disorders.

Interventions: Participants completed a questionnaire with demographic, medical and gynecological data. Each patient underwent Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing and an ultrasound to assess their Antral Follicular Count (AFC). AMH and AFC were then compared between groups.

Measurements and Main Results:

A total of 124 women participated in the study. Of them, 50% (n=62) had surgically proven superficial endometriosis and 50% (n=62) were without known or suspected endometriosis. Mean AMH levels of women with and without superficial endometriosis was 3.0±2.8 ng/ml and 2.8± 1.9 ng/ml, respectively (p=0.71). AFC also did not differ between groups (women with superficial endometriosis: 12.0±6.6; women without endometriosis: 10.2± 5.0, p=0.15).

Conclusion:

In our cohort, superficial endometriosis was not associated with diminished ovarian reserve. While further studies are needed, to date, it is unjustified to assess ovarian reserve for patients with superficial endometriosis.