Importance of reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis or idiopathic infertility

Objective: To determine whether reactive oxygen species in peritoneal fluid might be a factor in infertility. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Andrology laboratory and gynecology clinic at a tertiary care facility. Patient(s): Women with endometriosis (n = 15) or idiopathic infertility (n = 11) who underwent laparoscopy for infertility. Patients undergoing tubal ligation served as controls (n = 13). Intervention(s): Aspiration of peritoneal fluid. Main Outcome Measure(s): Reactive oxygen species levels, presence of polymorphonuclear granulocytes, and leukocyte distribution in peritoneal fluid. Result(s): Reactive oxygen species were present in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis, idiopathic infertility, and tubal Ligation. Levels of reactive oxygen species did not show a statistically significant difference between patients with endometriosis and the control group in either unprocessed or processed (cell-free) peritoneal fluid, but did differ significantly between patients with idiopathic infertility and controls in processed peritoneal fluid. Polymorphonuclear granulocytes (>1 X 10(6)/mL) were not present in the peritoneal fluid of any patient. Macrophage concentrations of peritoneal fluid did not differ significantly between controls and patients with endometriosis or idiopathic infertility. Conclusion(s): Reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal fluid may not affect fertility directly in women with endometriosis; however, they may have a role in patients with idiopathic infertility. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.