INCREASED INCIDENCE AND RECURRENCE OF RECENT CORPUS-LUTEUM WITHOUT OVULATION STIGMA (LUTEINIZED UNRUPTURED FOLLICLE SYNDROME) IN BABOONS WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a recent corpus luteum (CL) wit hout fresh ovulation stigma (OS) can be found with a higher incidence and recurrence in baboons with endometriosis and is associated with a reduced egg recovery rate after uterine flush. METHODS: One hundred th irty-eight laparoscopies were performed in the early luteal phase of 5 2 cycles in 32 female baboons with a normal pelvis (controls) and of 8 6 cycles in 21 animals with endometriosis. The incidence and recurrenc e of a recent CL without OS was studied during each laparoscopy and du ring the first three laparoscopies in 15 baboons (five controls, ten w ith endometriosis), respectively. The association between the presence of a recent CL without OS and the egg recovery rate was evaluated dur ing 65 cycles in 21 baboons after uterine flush. RESULTS: When all 138 laparoscopies were analyzed, the incidence of a recent CL without OS was higher (P < .03) in animals with stage II-IV endometriosis (35%) t han in those with stage I disease (19%) or controls (11%). Both the in cidence (seven of ten) and recurrence (three of ten) of a recent CL wi thout OS were higher in baboons with endometriosis than in controls (z ero of five, P < .02) when studied during the first three laparoscopie s. Laparoscopies in primates having a recent CL without OS were associ ated with a lower egg recovery rate (13%) than in animals with recent CL an OS (54%, P = .005). CONCLUSION: A recent CL without OS was assoc iated with a reduced egg recovery rate and could be found with a highe r incidence and recurrence in baboons with endometriosis than in contr ols, suggesting that luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome exists an d could contribute to endometriosis-associated subfertility.