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Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Impaired uterine artery flow associated with the presence of ovarian endometrioma: preliminary results of a prospective study

Authors: Maria Grazia Porpora, Federica Tomao, Lucia Manganaro, Deliar Yazdanian, Eliana Fuggetta, Maria Grazia Piccioni, Pierluigi Benedetti Panici, Giuseppe Benagiano

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Background

Aim of this prospective, case–control study was to evaluate uterine arteries’ blood flow before and after laparoscopic surgery in patients with ovarian endometriosis and its possible correlation with infertility.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 110 women of reproductive age; 69 with ovarian endometriomas and scheduled for surgery, and 41 controls. At enrolment, a detailed medical, gynecologic and obstetric history was collected. Fertility and pregnancy desire were assessed. All patients underwent complete physical and gynecologic examination. Transvaginal ultrasound with Doppler color flow was performed to evaluate Resistance Index (RI) of uterine arteries during the secretory phase, at enrolment (T0) and 3 months after laparoscopic surgery (T1).

Results

Among cases, 27 patients were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. At enrolment (T0) unilateral or bilateral flow alterations (RI ≥ 0.8) were found in 38 out of 42 patients with ovarian endometriosis (90%), whereas in the control group only 17 women (41%) had Doppler alterations. The difference in uterine artery RI values between cases and controls was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). A statistically significant improvement in uterine artery flow (P <0.0001) was found 3 months after surgical treatment of endometriosis. Nineteen patients with endometriosis (45%) were infertile before surgery; all of them presented uterine artery Doppler alterations at T0. After surgery the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in patients who presented uterine artery flow normalization than in those with persistent uterine artery flow alterations (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

A strong correlation was found between uterine artery flow abnormalities and ovarian endometriosis. Uterine artery flow improvement following surgery seems to increase the probabilities of achieving pregnancy.

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Title: Impaired uterine artery flow associated with the presence of ovarian endometrioma: preliminary results of a prospective study
Authors: Maria Grazia Porpora
Federica Tomao
Lucia Manganaro
Deliar Yazdanian
Eliana Fuggetta
Maria Grazia Piccioni
Pierluigi Benedetti Panici
Giuseppe Benagiano
Publication date: 01-12-2014
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-7-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Impaired uterine artery flow associated with the presence of ovarian endometrioma: preliminary results of a prospective study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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