Key words ovarian cyst - IVF/ICSI - clinical pregnancy rates - fertilization rate - oocyte number
Schlüsselwörter Ovarialzyste - IVF/ICSI - klinische Schwangerschaftsrate - Befruchtungsrate - Oozytenzahl
Introduction
As women have commonly begun opting to establish their careers before they begin having
children, efforts to conceive are increasingly being postponed to later reproductive
ages. Thus growing numbers of women are using ART when they are not otherwise able
to conceive. Ovarian cysts are found in around 7% of premenopausal women [6 ] during routine screening transvaginal ultrasound.
When ovarian cysts persist, they are usually not due to cyclic changes and therefore
tend not to regress. Such cysts include endometrioma, dermoid, and serous or mucinous
cystadenomas.
They can affect ovarian stimulation and sometimes they grow during controlled ovarian
stimulation. As ART in Germany needs a financial support from the concerned couples,
initial conditions before treatment should be optimal.
Due to the risks ovarian cysts present, potential rupture or malignancy, laparoscopic
cystectomy has become the gold standard in the surgical management of persistent adnexal
masses [1 ], [7 ]. Thus, ovarian cystectomy affects ovarian reserves [17 ], [23 ] and consequently ART outcomes [5 ], [29 ].
Therefore a surgical approach is not always the first choice. The IOTA criteria described
by Timmerman [26 ] give good features to evaluate the dignity of an ovarian mass. The practicability
was proofed and described in a metaanalysis by Nunes [15 ].
To date, most published studies on ovarian cysts only include endometriomas, meaning
that other entities remain under-represented [25 ]. As their definitive histological type is not known at the time of diagnosis, IOTA
criteria help us to determine how they are managed clinically.
This large sample study aimed to evaluate both options that patients and physicians
have when persistent ovarian cysts are found before ART treatment. We purposed to
analyze the impact of ovarian cyst removal versus conservative management on patients
considering IVF/ICSI procedures. Using a notable control group, we tried to evaluate
the impact of the cyst itself, regardless of histological type. We are specifically
interested in understanding fertility consequences of ovarian surgical procedures.
Material and Methods
Patients
This is a retrospective single center cohort study. Between 2002 and 2011 14 102 patients
18 to 40 years old underwent IVF/ICSI treatment at the fertility center Kinderwunschzentrum
Wiesbaden because of female, idiopathic or male subfertility.
At the beginning of the ovarian cycle a vaginal ultrasound was performed. 13 552 patients
did not present any pathological finding during transvaginal ultrasound (control group).
550 patients were diagnosed with a persistent asymptomatic ovarian cyst. These ovarian
masses were unsuspecting lesions according to IOTA criteria, and were 20 – 50 mm.
After medical examination and counseling 328 patients personally decided to undergo
a conventional laparoscopic cyst extirpation (group 1), 222 patients decided not to
undergo any surgery (group 2).
We analyzed the first IVF/ICSI cycle. Several parameters were documented including
age, total gonadotrophin stimulation dose, stimulation time, mean number of oocytes
retrieved (MNOR), fertilization rate (FR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). The pregnancy
outcome was analyzed by the live birth rate (LBR) and miscarriage rate (MR).
Treatment
Women underwent either long agonist protocol or GnRH antagonist protocol controlled
ovarian hyperstimulation. The long agonist protocol included initial down regulation
with GnRH agonist as a depot injection during the mid-luteal phase of the previous
menstrual cycle. The GnRH antagonist was initiated when the lead follicle had a diameter
of 12 – 14 mm, usually on the 6th day of stimulation and was given daily. Recombinant
FSH was started from day 2 or 3 of the cycle and dosages were calculated based on
patientsʼ age, antral follicle count (AFC), basal FSH/LH levels, and response to previous
ovarian stimulation. The individual daily dose was adjusted based on follicular growth
monitoring and estradiol levels in order to achieve optimal ovarian response in all
patients. 10 000 IU hCG were administered subcutaneously when at least two follicles
had a diameter of over 18 mm. Oocyte retrieval was performed 36 hours later.
Standard laboratory protocols were followed, including intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
All assisted reproductive techniques were used according to the “Deutsches Embryonenschutzgesetz”
(embryo protection law). Ultrasound guided transfer of one, two or, at most, three
embryos was performed on day three after oocyte retrieval. All patients received a
progesterone supplement during the luteal phase. Serum β-HCG level was measured fourteen
days after the transfer. Pregnancy was diagnosed if serum β-HCG was at least 50 IU/ml
and an ultrasound examination two weeks later confirmed the presence of a gestational
sac in the uterine cavity. Phone follow-up was performed 40 weeks after embryo transfer
in order to collect data about the obstetrical outcome.
Statistics
Statistical analysis was performed through Statistics Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS 22.0, Chicago IL, USA).
For the descriptive analysis categorical variables were summarized as total numbers
and percentages and means with standard deviations where given for continuous variables.
Median with first and third quartiles (Q1 and Q3) were given for non-normally distributed
continuous variables.
The association of the outcome variable of being pregnant or not was analyzed for
different continuous variables like total FSH dosis, duration of treatment, MNOR and
FR using a linear model.
For categorical variables like CPR, MR and LBR we performed logistic regression models
and adjusted for age. The results of the models are presented as odds ratios (ORs)
with 95% confidence intervals. The analyses were performed as explorative analyses.
P-values were given for descriptive reasons only, and should be interpreted in connection
with the effect estimates (OR).
Ethical approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants
were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee
and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical
standards.
Results
A total of 14 102 patients who had undergone an IVF/ICSI cycle between 2002 and 2011
were analyzed. 328 patients with a persistent mass decided to perform a laparoscopic
cyst extirpation and 222 patients decided not to undergo any surgery. 13 552 control
patients had no diagnosable ovarian cyst (see [Table 1 ] and [Fig. 1 ] for further baseline characteristics).
Table 1 Results of the analysed linear regression models for age, FSH dosis, duration of
treatment, mean number of oocytes retrieved (MNOR), fertilization rate (FR), clinical
pregnancy rate (CPR) live birth rate (LBR) and miscarriage (MR). All models were adjusted
for age.
Total
Group 1: ovarian cyst surgically treated
Group 2: intact ovarian cyst
Group 3: control group
p-value
n. s.: non-significant
Age (years)
33.1 ± 4.2
33.0 ± 4.3
34.3 ± 4.0
33.1 ± 4.2
n. s.
Total dose of FSH used (IU)
2217.4 ± 945.5
2375.6 ± 1159.5*
2576.4 ± 1269**
2207.5 ± 931.9*, **
* p = 0.001
** p < 0.001
Duration of treatment (days)
11.1 ± 3.4
11.3 ± 4.2
11.3 ± 3.5
11.1 ± 3.4
n. s.
Mean number of oocytes retrieved (MNOR)
9.5 ± 5.37
8.2 ± 5.0*, **
9.0 ± 5.5**
9.5 ± 5.4*
* p = 0.00
** p = 0.012
Fertilization rate (FR %)
62.1 ± 22.9
63 ± 23.7
60.6 ± 24.4
62.1 ± 22.8
n. s.
Pregnant women
4796
110
57
4629
Clinical pregnancy (CPR %)
34%
(33.5%)*
(25.7%)*, **
(34.2%)**
* p = 0.062
** p = 0.022
Deliveries
3057
60
30
2967
Live birth (LBR %)
21.70%
18.30%
(13.5%)*
(21.9%)*
* p = 0.008
Miscarriage (MR)
1100 (22.9%)
29 (26.4%)
16 (28.1%)
1065 (23.0%)
n. s.
Unknown pregnancy outcome
629 (4.5%)
21 (6.4%)
11 (5%)
597 (4.4%)
Fig. 1 Results for FSH dosis, mean number of oocytes retrieved (MNOR), fertilization rate
(FR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR) and miscarriage (MR) in
the three groups.
Patients were on average 33.1 years old (± 4.2) and required a mean dose of 2217.4 IU
(± 945.5) of recombinant FSH for 11.1 days (± 3.4). The mean number of oocytes retrieved
was 9.5 (± 5.4) with a fertilization rate of 62.1% (± 22.9). Concerning oocyte quality,
a fertilization rate of 62.1% (± 22.9) was found. The overall clinical pregnancy rate
was 34% with a miscarriage rate of 22.9%. The overall live birth rate was 22.95%.
Age
All of the patients were comparable in terms of age. The mean age of patients who
underwent ovarian cystectomy was 33 years (± 4.3), comparable to the mean age of those
patients who did not undergo surgery (34 ± 4.0 years) and to that of the control group
(33 ± 4.2 years).
Stimulation
Patients from all groups were stimulated with comparable gonadotrophin doses for a
similar time frame.
Operated patients were stimulated for 11.3 days (± 4.2) and patients with an intact
ovarian cyst were stimulated for 11.3 days (± 3.5). Control patients were stimulated
for 11.1 days (± 3.4).
Both operated and non-operated patients with ovarian cysts (group 1 and 2) needed
similar doses and required on average higher stimulation dose than the controls. Patients
with an intact ovarian cyst required on average mean 113.96 IU (− 88.111 – 316.039)
few more doses of gonadotrophin than the patients who had undergone ovarian cyst removal
procedures, without relevance (2576 ± 1269 vs. 2376 ± 1160 IU; p-value = 0.268).
Controls needed the lowest stimulation dose. They required on average mean 170.27 IU
(− 270.79 – − 69.76) relevant few less doses than the cystectomy group (2208 ± 932
vs. 2376 ± 1160 IU; p-value = 0.001) and relevant few less doses than the non operated
group (2208 ± 932 vs. 2576 ± 1269 IU; p-value < 0.001).
Oocyte retrieval
Concerning the mean number of oocytes retrieved (MNOR) there was a significant difference
comparing both ovarian cyst groups (p-value = 0.012). MNOR was higher in the group
who did not undergo surgery (9 ± 5.5 vs. 8.2 ± 5.0 oocytes). Compared to controls,
the surgical group (group 1) showed significant lower amount of oocytes (9.5 ± 5.4
vs. 8.2 ± 5.0 oocytes; p-value = 0.00). Patients after cystectomy (group 1) showed
the lowest MNOR. Patients with an intact ovarian cyst and controls showed similar
MNOR (9 ± 5.5 vs. 9.5 ± 5.4 oocytes; p-value = 0.39).
Fertilization rate (FR)
Concerning oocyte quality, FR were similar in all groups, without statistical significance.
Clinical Pregnancy Rate (CPR)
The intact ovarian cyst group (group 2) showed the lowest chances of achieving pregnancy.
When comparing no surgery (group 2) with surgery (group 1) (25.7 vs. 33.5%) there
was a reduction of 30.5% in the chance of achieving a pregnancy (OR 0.695 [95% CI
0.474 – 1.019] p-value = 0.062). The surgical group (group 1) and the controls showed
comparable CPR (33.5 and 34.2%, OR 1.031 [95% CI 0.817 – 1.302] p-value = 0.795).
Relevant higher CPR was observed in controls than in patients with an intact ovarian
cyst (34.2 vs. 25.7%, OR 1.428 [95% CI 1.054 – 1.936] p-value = 0.022).
Live birth rate (LBR)
It was possible to collect follow-up data from 94.73% of the women who became pregnant.
The number of live births in women with an operated ovarian cyst, intact cyst, and
no cysts were similar: 60 (18.3%), 30 (13.5%), and 2967 (21.9%) respectively. Even
though lower LBR in those who preferred conservative management (group 2) than after
surgery was found, no statistical differences emerged (13.5 vs. 18.3%, OR 0.71 [95%
CI 0.439 – 1.148] p-value = 0.163). LBR on the controls was comparable to the cystectomy
group (21.9 vs. 18.3%), OR 1.26 (95% CI 0.948 – 1.674) p-value = 0.111. Nevertheless
relevant higher LBR was found on the controls when compared to the intact ovarian
cyst group (21.9 vs. 13.5%, OR 1.685 [95% CI 1.143 – 2.485] p-value = 0.008).
Miscarriage rate (MR)
There were no remarkable differences among the MR. The number of miscarriages in women
with operated cysts, intact ovarian cysts, and no cysts were 29 (26.4%), 16 (28.1%),
and 1065 (23%) respectively. No relationship was found when comparing miscarriages
in the non-operated patients with operated patients (28.1 vs. 26.4%, OR 1.030 [95%
CI 0.499 – 2.126] p-value = 0.935) or in the controls with the operated patients (23
vs. 26.4%, OR 0.853 [95% CI 0.554 – 1.314] p-value = 0.47). Likewise, no important
differences were found when comparing MR in the controls with the intact ovarian cyst
group, (23 vs. 28.1%, OR 0.826 [95% CI 0.46 – 1.482] p-value = 0.521).
Discussion
As women reproduction is systematically being postponed to later ages, there is a
growing number of subfertile patients with less time left. Ovarian cysts are common
discoveries in women of reproductive age, especially during ART treatment.
Their physicians are confronted with important fertility questions searching the most
appropriate therapeutical strategy for them. While surgery allows a histological diagnostic
helping to exclude possible malignant tumors, the ovarian reserve can be reduced after
cystectomy, reducing fertility outcomes [17 ], [19 ], [23 ]. Furthermore, surgical procedures may critically delay the start of ART treatments
in patients who are per se aware of their limited fertility, causing stress and anxiety.
On the other hand, a conservative treatment with regular follow-ups, especially in
asymptomatic cases is also possible. The IOTA criteria make it possible to characterize
ovarian findings and to estimate the risk of malignancy. On the whole, physiciansʼ
dilemma is not easy to solve because surgerysʼ long-term effect on fertility remains
unclear.
How does the presence of ovarian cysts in our sample influence the pregnancy rate?
The fertility impact of the cyst depends on its nature, size and number. Endometriomas
account for around 35% of all the persistent benign cysts [28 ]. Histological analyzes after ovarian cystectomy included 47% endometriomas, 24%
dermoid cysts, 16% serous cystadenomas and 13% mucinous cystadenomas [18 ]. Similar results were found on previous publications [10 ]. Therefore, we assume the rate of endometrial cysts present in our sample to be
between 35 – 45%. Cystadenomas are often discovered in women after their reproductive
phase.
There is a relationship between endometriosis and infertility [11 ]. A recent literature review reported that its presence reduces the number of oocytes
retrieved and fertilization rates in IVF therapies [21 ]. Legendre et al. pointed out that it is difficult to determine the influence of
endometriomas and endometriosis on fertility [13 ].
The presence of endometriomas smaller than 4 cm does not appear to influence the results
of ART [2 ], [3 ], [14 ], [27 ], [30 ]. There is a general recommendation to treat only symptomatic endometriomas and/or
unilateral endometriomas > 4 cm [24 ].
After surgery, AMH level was significantly lower [17 ], showing a decline in ovarian reserve. The larger the size of endometrioma, the
bigger the impact of surgery on the ovarian reserve [16 ]. The Cochrane meta-analysis by Benschop et al. [5 ], focused on the management of endometriomas before IVF treatment and reported that
surgery did not improve pregnancy rates. The number of oocytes was lower after cystectomy.
Also a metaanalysis of Tsoumpou [29 ] and Garcia-Velasco [9 ] et al. could not find any benefit of surgery increasing clinical pregnancies.
There are only a few data to non endometriotic cysts. Dermoid cysts are the most common
benign finding in the ovaries of young women during their fertility lifespan [12 ]. One of the studies reported six patients in their sample who had dermoid cysts
(as diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound) while undergoing IVF treatment. All of them
achieved similar serum estrogens levels, oocyte retrieval numbers, and gave birth
to healthy babies. Despite the small sample size, there is an implication that dermoid
cysts do not irreparably affect fertility outcomes [7 ]. There is no clear recommendation concerning the extirpation of dermoid cysts prior
to ART. The risk of dermoid torsion, rupture and malignancy increases with the dermoid
size as well as the complexity of the procedure. In non endometriotic cysts, some
studies found a postsurgical ovarian damage with decreased ovarian reserve up to 40%
[8 ], [22 ].
In this retrospective study we focused on a cohort of 550 patients with an asymptomatic
incidental ovarian finding before starting an IVF treatment. 328 decided to undergo
surgery and 222 preferred a conservative management. Although the lower number of
oocytes retrieved after surgery could suggest a negative quantitative effect on the
ovary, surgery itself did not impair fertilization rate, pregnancy rate or live birth
rate. Comparing this data with a heterogenous notably control group representing an
average infertile patient undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment during the same period of
time, similar pregnancy outcomes were found. We can postulate that surgery does not
seem to worsen fertility outcomes as much as the presence of an ovarian cyst does.
Our data confirms previous literature [9 ].
Nevertheless it remains unclear why patients with a remaining cyst showed an apparently
lower ovarian responsiveness to hyperstimulation, with higher dosis of gonadotrophin
required to obtain the same amount of oocytes and why did they showed relevant lower
pregnancy rate and live birth rate than controls. One possible explanation might be
a concomitant chronic pelvic inflammation found in non-operated endometriomas inducing
infertility and thereby confounding the results [4 ].
Another explanation could be patientsʼ age, although the difference was not significant.
The patients who did not undergo surgery were 1.2 to 1.3 years older than the controls.
In an earlier publication [20 ] we showed that every year the probability of achieving pregnancy reduces 6%.
Some limitations of our study must be taken into consideration. As we did not gather
the exact cyst size or histology, we are unable to determine the exact influence of
endometriomas discussed above. Regarding the cyst size we assume size bias should
bring smaller cysts not to be removed and to increase pregnancy rates, increasing
the trend observed in this study. Other limitations are a well-known medical counseling
bias and the retrospective cohort design. In order to minimize the confounding elements,
we decided to enlarge the cohort. While this did improve our data set, this innacurate
control group includes patients with other infertility issues that might affect the
results. In our opinion, the control group should represent an average infertile patient
attending a fertility center and we do not generate general recommendations.
Conclusion
There are many aspects involved on fertility patients when ovarian cysts are found,
making it difficult to determine the exact impact of ovarian surgery. Counseling physicians
rely on guidelines, such as the IOTA criteria, making it possible to estimate the
risk of malignancy. Statistics show that endometriomas are the most frequent ovarian
masses in patients in their reproductive phase. Presented literature gives no hint
if any surgery leads to an improvement on the pregnancy rates. This retrospective
analysis together with the current literature might help patientsʼ and physicians
decision when ovarian cysts are present before ART procedures.
In symptomatic women, an ovarian cystectomy does not significantly degrade fertility
outcomes. Patients considering the procedure should however be carefully advised beforehand
about how it could potentially impair their ovarian reserve. Alternatively, asymptomatic
women who are older and have lower ovarian reserves are more likely to benefit from
more conservative treatment strategies. This approach will not hamper their likelihood
of having acceptable outcomes, and deleterious effects on their ovaries will be mitigated.
