Assessment of ovarian reserve after unilateral diathermy with thermal doses adjusted to ovarian volume

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome seem to have a larger ovarian reserve. However, regardless of a greater reserve, diminished ovarian reserve has been reported after laparoscopic diathermy. The aim of this article was to determine whether the doses adjusted unilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with diathermy (ULOD) diminishes ovarian reserve to compare with bilateral laparoscopic ovarian drilling with diathermy (BLOD). Ninety-six women were assigned in two groups. One group underwent ULOD receiving thermal doses (0–840?J per ovary) adjusted to volume one ovary. The other group underwent BLOD receiving fixed doses (600?J per ovary). Ovarian reserve markers [anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH); antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian volume] were measured before and after surgery (1 and 6 months). Both groups showed a decrease in AMH after surgery, but it was significantly more distinct in the BLOD versus ULOD group (2.0?ng/mL versus 1.3?ng/mL; p?=?0.018) in the first follow-up month and remained significantly different through the sixth follow-up month (1.9?ng/mL versus 1.15?ng/mL; p?=?0.023). In contrast, in the sixth month, the ULOD versus BLOD showed a significantly greater increase AFC (p?p?=?0.013). Our findings evidenced that the dose-adjusted unilateral diathermy (60?J/cm³) does not have significant and long-term effects on ovarian reserve.