The impact of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound for uterine fibroids on ovarian reserve

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the impact of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) for uterine fibroids on ovarian reserve in women of reproductive age. Materials and methods From September 2015 to September 2017, 84 patients with uterine fibroids in reproductive age were enrolled from Chongqing Haifu Hospital, Three Gorges Central Hospital of Chongqing and Aegisroen obstetric gynecology Clinic of Seoul, Korea. Blood was collected before HIFU treatment and 6 months after USgHIFU treatment. The enzyme-linked immune analysis was used for assay of circulating anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). Results All the 84 patients were successfully treated with USgHIFU and 67 patients completed the follow-up. The median age of the 67 patients was 38 years at the time of treatment. The median AMH value before and 6 months after treatment was 1.26 ng/mL and 1.27 ng/mL, respectively. Patients who completed AMH measurements 6 months after treatment were further classified into three groups based on age, including younger than 35 years, 36 to 40 years, and older than 40 years. The median AMH values before treatment were 3.04 ng/mL, 1.73 ng/mL and 0.87 ng/mL, and the corresponding values 6 months after treatment were 3.24, 1.44 and 0.75, respectively. A significant difference in AMH level was observed in the group of patients at the age between 36 and 40 years (p < 0.05), but no significant difference in AMH levels was observed in the other two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion Based on our results, we conclude that USgHIFU has no influence on ovarian reserve.