Oxidative stress may be a piece in the endometriosis puzzle

OBJECTIVE: To assess the total antioxidant potential of women with endometriosis-associated infertility, women with idiopathic infertility, and fertile controls. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University medical hospital. PATIENT(S): Sixty-five women admitted for diagnostic laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peritoneal fluid samples were analyzed for superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant status on spectrophotometry, glutathione peroxidase activity on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and lipid peroxides levels on colorimetry. RESULT(S): Mean activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant status was lowest and lipid peroxide level was highest among infertile patients with endometriosis. Women with idiopathic infertility, in contrast, had the highest superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant status activity and the lowest lipid peroxide level. CONCLUSION(S): High antioxidant potential is not a contributing factor in women with idiopathic infertility. Low total antioxidant status and low activity of antioxidant enzymes in the peritoneal fluid of infertile women with endometriosis probably do not influence fertility in these women, but these factors may play a role in the development of the disease.