Surgical management of polycystic ovarian syndrome

Adequacy of ovarian diathermy under ultrasound control: an experimental model

Background

To develop a minimally invasive ovarian cauterization technique under transvaginal ultrasound control and evaluate the safety and feasability of monopolar cauterization to cause ovarian injury using female cattle of reproductive age as an experimental model.

Method

Experimental study in a university research center was performed. Eleven female bovines of reproductive age were submitted to monopolar transvaginal ovarian cauterization. The right ovary (RO) was punctured at four sites and 40 W was applied for 5 s at each point, resulting in a total of 800 J (Joules) of thermal energy. In the left ovary (LO), the procedure was similar, with the same time and 80 W, resulting in a thermal energy of 1600 J. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions were assessed.

Results

Of 22 ovaries punctured, 20 were cauterized and exhibited macroscopic and typical microscopic lesions. No lesions could be found in the needle path. The measures of the areas of microscopic electrocautery lesions calculated estimating a cylindrical volume showed a median of 1.12% in the right ovary and 1.65% in the left ovary. When the estimate was calculated by spherical shape, the medians were 1.77% in the right ovary and 3.06% in the left ovary. There was a statistically significant difference in these two estimates (sphere, p = 0.008; cylinder, p = 0.021).

Conclusion

The experimental animal model described for transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovarian needle cauterization seems to be feasible. The ovaries were successfully cauterized without injuries in needle path and more energy resulted in significantly more thermal lesion. The safety and effectiveness of this technique, theoretically less invasive than current ovarian drilling methods, could be tested in anovulatory women with PCOS.

Treatment preferences and trade-offs for ovulation induction in clomiphene citrate–resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate patient preferences and trade-offs for laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries relative to ovulation induction with recombinant FSH (rFSH) in patients with clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

Assessment of preferences and trade-offs in a randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Academic hospital.

PATIENT(S)

Thirty-two CC-resistant patients with PCOS who had been randomly assigned to either laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries or ovulation induction with rFSH and 32 control patients with PCOS under treatment with CC.

INTERVENTION(S)

Preference for laparoscopic electrocautery relative to rFSH was established during an interview. Trade-offs between treatment burden and effectiveness were evaluated by varying hypothetical pregnancy rates after laparoscopic electrocautery until patients switched in their initial preference.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Preference for laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries; trade-off between burden and effectiveness of treatment.

RESULT(S)

The majority of the patients would prefer electrocautery of the ovaries over ovulation induction with rFSH if both treatment strategies resulted in similar pregnancy rates. However, most patients were willing to trade off their preference for increased effectiveness: the percentage of patients who preferred electrocautery over rFSH sharply declined when the difference in hypothetical pregnancy rates was more than 5% in favor of rFSH.

CONCLUSION(S)

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome are well able to express an informed preference for laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries or ovulation induction with rFHS. Preferences are guided by features of the respective treatments but seem to be dominated by their effectiveness and safety.

Management of Infertility in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The management of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) centers around options for inducing ovulation. This is an evidence-based review of the management of PCOS, which includes a MEDLINE search of publications between 1986 and May 2005 and a search of the Cochrane Database. Weight loss, exercise, and metformin will induce ovulation in many insulin-resistant women and obese women with PCOS, and should always be the first-line treatment. Ovulation induction has been performed with clomiphene citrate (clomifene) as the first-line treatment, but the use of aromatase inhibitors has been shown to be as successful. The strategies for reducing the risks of gonadotropin therapy such as low-dose follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation and the addition of metformin are discussed. Both gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonists and antagonists are equally effective in in vitro fertilization stimulation in conjunction with FSH therapy. Metformin may have a benefit in pregnancy in reducing the risks of miscarriage and diabetes mellitus; however, prospective trials are still lacking.

Effects of Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling on Young Adult Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess changes in serum hormone levels and ovarian stromal blood flow after laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) in young adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized study (Canadian Task Force classification II-1).

SETTING

Tertiary care, major teaching hospitals.

PATIENTS

Anovulatory young women with PCOS who were resistant to clomiphene citrate.

INTERVENTION

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

To evaluate the endocrinological effects of LOD, serum leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1, estrone (E1), and estradiol were measured before and after ovarian drilling in the early follicular phase. Three-dimensional transabdominal power Doppler examinations were performed to determine the effects of LOD. Serum leptin was correlated with body mass index (BMI) before LOD. Levels of BMI, fasting blood sugar, and leptin were higher and LH, LH/FSH, and the sugar/insulin ratio were lower in the obese group. There were significant decreases in the free androgen index, and total testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and a significant increase in sex hormonebinding globulin (SHBG) concentration in the 3 months after the operation. The vascularization index and vascularization flow index of the intraovarian stroma significantly decreased after treatment. Reversed correlations between leptin and LH, LH/FSH, E1, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and SHBG were noted 3 months after the operation compared with levels obtained before the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of young adult women with PCOS using LOD did not influence leptin levels but changed the ovarian stromal blood flow dynamics during short-term follow-up. The surgical procedure may be beneficial both to endocrine profiles and to intraovarian stromal flow in patients with PCOS.

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling as first line of treatment in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) is used as a first line of treatment, as a second line of treatment after patients have proved resistant to clomiphene or as a third line of treatment after failed ovulation induction with gonadotropins. We present the postoperative pregnancy rates of 57 women to evaluate a potential optimal time of LOD together with the other treatment regimens of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Data on the preoperative and operative treatment, and background data were evaluated for their influence on pregnancy rates. The pregnancy rate was 61% among women with PCOS who had LOD. No difference was found in the clinical data between the women who became pregnant and those who did not. Likewise, no difference was found between the women who had pre- and/or postoperative medical ovulation treatment and those who had none. The median time to pregnancy after LOD was 135 days. LOD alone resolves infertility within 4-6 months in 50-60% of couples. A strategy with diagnostic laparoscopy and LOD as the first line of treatment of infertility in women with PCOS will shorten the time to pregnancy for many women, reduce the need for medical ovulation induction and enable diagnosis of those women with anatomic infertility, who can achieve pregnancy only by in vitro fertilization treatment.

Laparoscopic treatment of polycystic ovaries: is it time to relinquish the procedure?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of laparoscopic ovarian drilling and treatment with metformin in the management of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

A literature search was conducted using the keywords laparoscopy, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, PCOS, metformin, and ovulation. The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched.

RESULTS

No randomized comparisons have been done between laparoscopic ovarian drilling and metformin therapy. However, the ovulation and pregnancy rates appear to be similar for both techniques. Both treatments decrease the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation and the cancellation rate of IVF cycles. However, unlike laparoscopic ovarian drilling, metformin may decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSION(S)

Given the similar magnitude of the results without the potential risks and complication of surgery, we propose that laparoscopic ovarian drilling should be used sparingly in favor of less invasive treatment with metformin.

Hyperandrogenaemia and the ovary

Hyperandrogenaemia in women presents in a variety of ways, including problems with the reproductive system. The commonest cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition found in 5-10% of all women. PCOS has origins that are genetic and environmental but the end organ, the ovary, exhibits excessive androgen production with enhanced sensitivity to luteinising hormone and insulin. Interventions include approaches that target both these hormones as well as the ovary itself.

Androgen excess contributes to altered growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between ovarian androgen excess and impaired growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN

A prospective, controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Clinical Medicine.

PATIENT(S)

Six patients with PCOS with both clomiphene resistance and gonadotropin hyperreponsiveness and six controls with regular cycles, matched for age and body mass index (BMI).

INTERVENTION(S)

Bilateral ovarian wedge resection (OWR) was performed to induce ovulation surgically for these refractory women with PCOS. A GH stimulation test with oral L-dopa was arranged for controls and for patients with PCOS before and again 6 months later after OWR.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Plasma GH, IGF-1, FSH, LH, testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, insulin, and glucose.

RESULT(S)

Basal levels and areas under the response curve of GH and GH-IGF-1 ratio to L-dopa were significantly lower in patients with PCOS before surgery than those of controls. The OWR in patients with PCOS obviously reduced their androstenedione and testosterone levels and insulin-glucose ratios, and increased the GH and GH-IGF-1 responses to L-dopa.

CONCLUSION(S)

Impaired somatotrophic axis caused by a defect in central dopaminergic activity may be responsible for severe anovulation in these women with PCOS, which could be reversed by removing excessive androgens with OWR.