The Effect of Laparoscopic Ovarian Electrocautery in Pregnancy Rate in Metformin- and Clomiphene Citrate-Resistant Infertile Women

Background & objective:  Insulin resistance can be seen in most overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Insulin resistance seems to play a key role in the pathophysiology of PCOS and infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of insulin resistance on pregnancy rate and regulation of the menstrual cycle following laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery (LOE). Materials & Methods:  This prospective cohort study was conducted on 54 infertile metformin- and clomiphene citrate-resistant women with PCOS at Yas Hospital in 2007. These patients initially took a glucose tolerance test and then classified into two groups (i.e., insulin-resistant and non-insulin-resistant) based on the obtained results. Both groups, then, underwent LOE. Patients were evaluated for pregnancy rate and regulation of the menstrual cycle up to six months. Results:  Out of 54 patients, 37 patients (68.5%) were non-insulin-resistant, and 17 patients (31.5%) were insulin-resistant. In the insulin-resistant group, after six months, menstrual cycles were less regular than those of the non-insulin-resistant group (OR=0.2; 95%CI, 0.07-0.87). Fifteen (40.5%) women in the non-insulin-resistant group became pregnant; in contrast, three (17.6%) women in the insulin-resistant group became pregnant. In the logistic regression analysis, the results demonstrated that age, duration of infertility, body mass index (BMI), and insulin resistance had no significant effects on pregnancy rate. Conclusion:  Insulin resistance can be an important marker of the poor outcomes of PCOS infertility treatment, and LOE significantly improves insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

Keywords:

Polycystic ovary syndrome , Insulin resistance , Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery , Pregnancy