Impaired oocyte quality and oxidative stress might be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis-related infertility. To improve our understanding of the role of oxidative stress in this condition, we compare eight oxidative stress markers from each stage, including the simultaneous analysis of lipids, proteins and DNA damage, in the serum and follicular fluid of infertile women with endometriosis and infertile controls undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In total, 87 serum samples (43 with endometriosis, 44 controls) and 61 follicular fluid samples (29 with endometriosis, 32 controls) free of blood contamination upon visual inspection and presenting granulosa cells alone or granulosa cells plus a retrieved mature oocyte were collected on the day of oocyte retrieval. Total hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined by spectrophotometry, vitamin E by high-performance liquid chromatography and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The endometriosis group showed higher serum concentrations of glutathione and SOD, lower serum concentrations of TAC and higher follicular concentrations of 8OHdG and vitamin E compared with infertile controls. These data indicate both systemic and follicular oxidative stress in infertile patients with endometriosis. For the first time, we demonstrate the presence of oxidative DNA damage, represented by higher 8OHdG concentrations in the follicular microenvironment of these patients, possibly related to compromised oocyte quality and associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis-related infertility.

Purpose To report the case of a patient with a diagnosis of infiltrative ductal carcinoma of the breast (case 1) and of a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma (case 2), both submitted to ovarian stimulation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in order to cryopreserve embryos and oocytes, respectively, in view of the need to start chemotherapy within a maximum of three weeks. Methods Case reports Results Both patients were submitted to ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone together with pituitary blockade with a GnRH antagonist during the luteal phase of the cycle. Oocyte retrieval was performed nine days after the beginning of ovarian stimulation, with 12 mature oocytes being obtained in both cases. In case 1, all mature oocytes were submitted to ICSI, with fertilization and cleavage rates of 83.3% and 70%, respectively, and with the formation of seven good quality embryos. In case 2, all of mature oocytes were cryopreserved. Conclusions These cases demonstrate that it is possible to obtain mature oocytes when ovarian stimulation is started in the luteal phase in situations in which there is not sufficient time for conventional stimulation.

Young obese women with POS have a higher frequency of IR, GI and MS than non-obese. However, the occurrence of metabolic disorders is elevated also in the non-obese patients, suggesting that the presence of the syndrome may favor the development of metabolic comorbidities with potential medium- and long-term repercussions.

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