Total antioxidant status of peritoneal fluid in infertile women

Objective: To determine whether impairment of the antioxidant systems of peritoneal fluid might be a factor responsible for infertility. Study design: Total antioxidant status was: measured in peritoneal fluid obtained from 18 infertile women suffering from minimal or mild endometriosis, 23 patients with unexplained infertility, 12 women with tubal infertility and 13 fertile women. Results: Total antioxidant status was significantly lower in peritoneal fluid from women with unexplained infertility (0.49+/-0.21 mmol/l) compared to both fertile patients (0.67+/-0.24 mmol/l. P=0.02) and women with tubal infertility (0.76+/-0.36 mmol/l, P=0.001). Peritoneal fluid total antioxidant status did not differ significantly between patients with endometriosis (0.61 +/- 0.2 mmol/l), tubal infertility and the fertile group (P>0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that low antioxidant status in peritoneal fluid may play a role in the pathogenesis of infertility. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.