Factors Influencing the Outcome of Laparoscopic Ovarian Electerocauterization in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Background/Objective: To evaluate factors which increase the chance of ovulation and pregnancy after laparoscopic ovarian electerocauterization (LEC) in Clomiphene Citrate (CC) resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.Methods: An experimental prospective study was carried out in the infertility division of a university teaching hospital. Two hundred and ninety-nine women with PCOS who were resistant to CC were enrolled in this study.  LEC was performed over a four years period between 1996 till 1999.  Serum concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandesterone sulfate (DHEAS), were measured before and ten days after LEC.  The ovulation and pregnancy rates were also determined over a period of one year of follow-up.Results: The overall ovulation rate was 78.3% but cumulative pregnancy rate 12 months after LEC was 47.8%. Women who conceived following surgery had mainly a shorter duration of infertility, secondary infertility and higher pre-operational LH levels. Conclusion: PCOS women with anovulatory infertility responded favorably to LEC (clinic & para clinic). Three main factors that affect the outcome of surgery are duration of infertility, type of infertility and amount of pre-operational LH levels.