The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the post-operative decline in serum AMH levels in patients with endometriosis and other benign cysts. This study also attempts to clarify the factors of endometriosis that may influence the AMH level. A total of 75 were recruited prospectively between 2011 and 2012. Fifty-nine patients had endometriosis, while the other 16 had another kind of benign ovarian cyst. In the endometriosis group, the AMH level decreased significantly from pre- to postoperatively (4.3 ± 0.4 vs. 2.8 ± 0.2, p<.001). This significant decrement in AMH levels was present in the endometriosis group regardless of multiplicity (p=.028 vs. p<.001) and bilaterality (p=.003 vs. p<.001). The stage III-IV endometriosis group also demonstrated a significant decrease (p<.001). Laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy in patients with endometriosis may cause a decrease in serum AMH levels. We suggest that preoperative and postoperative AMH levels should be evaluated in reproductive-aged women with endometriosis for their future fertility.
Keywords: Anti-Müllerian hormone; cyst; endometriosis; laparoscopy; ovarian reserve.