OBJECTIVE. To compare the effects of laparoscopic ovarian drilling in treating infertile polycystic ovarian syndrome in patients with and without metabolic syndrome.

DESIGN. Retrospective review.

SETTING. A university-affiliated hospital in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. A total of 89 infertile anovulatory polycystic ovarian syndrome patients, who underwent laparoscopic ovarian drilling with completed metabolic screening and seen over a 5-year period from 2002 to 2007.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. The clinical, hormonal, and metabolic characteristics as well as spontaneous ovulation rates, reproductive outcomes, and diabetes risks during pregnancy observed after laparoscopic ovarian drilling.

RESULTS. Approximately one fifth (21%) of polycystic ovarian syndrome patients had the metabolic syndrome. There were no differences in spontaneous ovulation rates (68% vs 61%, P=0.76), cumulative pregnancy rates (68% vs 61%, P=0.77), and diabetes risks during pregnancy (64% vs 42%, P=0.13) between patients with and without metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling was equally effective in inducing ovulation in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients with metabolic syndrome. Thus, patients with metabolic syndrome should not be precluded from laparoscopic ovarian drilling, which has the additional advantage of enabling full tubo-peritoneal assessment at the same time.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Hyperandrogenism; Infertility, female; Metabolic syndrome X; Polycystic ovary syndrome

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