Ovarian reserve testing before and after laparoscopic tubal bipolar electrodesiccation and transection

Objective: To find out whether tubal sterilization leads to loss of ovarian reserve, we assessed the hormonal and ultrasonographic parameters of ovarian reserve in women who underwent laparoscopic tubal sterilization by bipolar electrodesiccation and transection. Study design: In this preliminary study, laparoscopic tubal sterilization was performed on 49 healthy women who had voluntarily requested elective surgical sterilization. Among the current ovarian reserve indicators, in the early proliferative phases, preoperative (baseline) and postoperative (third month) serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, ovarian volume, and antral follicle counts (AFCs) were determined. Analysis of these hormonal and ultrasonographic parameters of ovarian reserve preoperatively and postoperatively was the main outcome measure. Results: Preoperative and third-month postoperative FSH, LH, E2, and AMH levels did not reveal statistically significant differences (p = 0.101, p = 0.180, p = 0.254, and p = 0.079; respectively). The ultrasonographic indicators of ovarian reserve did not change in terms of total ovarian volume and total AFC (p = 0.793 and p = 0.098, respectively). Conclusions: Short-term follow-up study results revealed a slight but non-significant change in the current ovarian reserve markers, especially in the AMH levels. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.