Exposure of human oocytes to endometrioma fluid does not alter fertilization or early embryo development

Background: Extensive endometriosis causes a mechanical disturbance in the pelvis leading to obstrcutive-type infertility. However, minimal or mild en dometriosis is suspected to cause infertility, possibly through a humoral a gent. Previous studies reported the presence of a factor in the serum of pa tients with endometriosis which reduced fertilization and early embryo form ation in a IVF model. Methods: In the present article we report a comparison of oocytes exposed t o endometrioma fluid and oocytes not exposed (controls) in the context of a human IVF setting. We have been in the practice of aspirating oocytes into prewarmed 60-ml syringes containing culture medium. We have shown previous ly that this technique reduces the length of oocyte retrieval without compr omising success. In 14 women undergoing oocyte retrieval, we inadvertently entered an endometrioma. This resulted in retrieved oocytes that were eithe r exposed or not exposed to endometrioma fluid. Results: In contrast to previous reports, we found no difference in fertili zation or early embryo development between the two groups. The fertilizatio n rate for oocytes exposed to an endometrioma was 60%, versus 56% for contr ols. The good-quality embryo formation rate for oocytes exposed to an endom etrioma was 45%, versus 46% for controls.