ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease, which significantly impairs fertility. However, the contribution of specific hormonal parameters to the proper diagnosis of endometriosis in infertility states has not been adequately determined. The aim of this study was to compare ant-Mullerian hormone (AMH), prolactin and estradiol concentrations between infertile women with and without endometriosis, as well as to estimate the effect of endometrioid heterotopia on ovarian reserve. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, mean baseline serum AMH, prolactin and estradiol levels were assessed in infertile women with and without endometriosis. Descriptive statistics are presented in the form of arithmetic mean ± standard deviation (SD). The comparison of indicators was performed by using parametric (t-test) and non-parametric criteria (Mann-Whitney). RESULTS: Seventy-two infertile women with endometriosis (group A; mean age: 32 ± 4.3 years) and 77 infertile women without endometriosis (group B; mean age: 32.4 ± 3.7 years) were studied. Mean baseline prolactin concentrations were higher in group A (16.9 ± 5.7 ng/mL) compared with group B (15 ± 4.3 ng/mL; p = .023), whereas mean AMH concentrations were lower (2.8 ± 1.9 ng/mL and 3.5 ± 1.8 ng/mL, respectively; p = .018). The highest prolactin and the lowest AMH concentrations were found in women with ovarian endometriomas than in those with deep infiltrative endometriosis and adenomyosis. There was no difference in estradiol levels between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Infertile women with endometriosis demonstrated higher prolactin and lower AMH concentrations, compared with infertile women without endometriosis. The highest prolactin and the lowest AMH concentrations were observed in patients with ovarian endometriomas.
