Premature declination of ovarian reserve and increased incidence of
abnormal histologic findings in ovaries from
Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome patients
Abstract
Objective: To describe the gross and histological characters of MRKHS
patients’ ovaries and assess their ovarian reserve directly for future
pregnancy. Design: A prospective case-control study. Setting and
population: A prospective case-control study involving 67 MRKH syndrome
patients and 17 ovarian biopsies (with age-matched controls), from
January 2017 to February 2020. Methods: We observed the gross appearance
of 67 Chinese MRKHS patients during laparoscopically assisted neovagina
creation surgery. Seventeen ovarian biopsies were obtained and compared
with age-matched controls for the histological characters. Twelve biopsy
specimens underwent a complete serial section and calculation of the
primordial follicular density. Main Outcome Measures: Follicle density,
morphology in ovarian cortex biopsies. Results: 5/67 MRKHS patients’
ovaries had abnormal gross appearance, including streak gonads and
bilateral porcelain white ovaries. We observed corpus luteum or corpus
albicans on 5/8 patients under 20 years old, but none of the controls.
None of the biopsies from MRKHS type Ⅱ patients showed corpus luteum or
corpus albicans. Two type Ⅰ patients presented with compromised ovarian
reserve, and significant increase of atretic follicles and corpus
albicans. A significant inverse correlation was observed between
primordial follicular density and age in 12 patients aged 16 to 25 years
old. Conclusion: The ovaries of MRKHS patients have higher rates of
abnormalities regarding gross appearance and histological characters.
Tweetable abstract: It is suggested that early preparation for fertility
reserve and incorporated as a part of the treatment when reconstructing
the neovagina in MRKH syndrome patients due to premature declination of
the ovarian reserve.