Predictive value of homocysteine levels in embryo culture media for embryo selection in infertile patients with endometriosis.

Objective: To investigate the possible ability of homocysteine (Hcy) levels in embryo culture media for estimating better invitro fertilization outcomes in endometriosis patients.

Materials and methods: Nineteen women with endometriosis who were admitted to Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility Outpatient Clinic with the diagnosis of infertility were included in the study. The results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatments were recorded and Hcy levels in the embryo culture were evaluated. The results were compared with those of the control patients without endometriosis, who had previously been admitted to our clinic for assisted reproductive technology.

Results: Mean Hcy levels in the culture media of the endometriosis group and non-endometriosis group were 4.31±0.48 µmol/L and 4.15±1.44 µmol/L, respectively (p>0.05). Pregnancy was achieved in 3 patients in the endometriosis group, while 13 pregnancies were obtained in the non-endometriosis group (p>0.05). When all cases were evaluated, the mean value of Hcy in the culture medium was found to be 3.60±0.84 µmol/L in the patients with a pregnancy and 4.21±0.84 µmol/L in the group that failed to achieve a pregnancy, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Difference between mean Hcy levels in the culture media of the endometriosis group and non-endometriosis group was statistically non-significant. Further studies with larger groups are needed for evaluating the association of Hcy with infertility in endometriosis patients. Mean Hcy levels in the group of patients who succeeded in conceiving were statistically higher than the group of patients who failed to conceive. It may be suggested that Hcy levels in the embryo culture media can predict the achievement of a pregnancy independently from some conditions which may adversely affect the embryo quality, such as endometriosis.