Effects of benign ovarian cyst volume and laterality on AMH and CA-125 levels

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyst volume and bilaterality on serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and CA-125 levels in patients with benign ovarian cysts. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 139 patients who underwent cystectomy for benign ovarian cysts. Serum AMH and CA-125 levels were measured preoperatively and at the second post-operative month. Results The mean preoperative AMH level was 3.96 ± 3.48 ng/mL, which significantly decreased to 3.59 ± 3.92 ng/mL postoperatively ( p = 0.026), reflecting an average decline of 9.3%. CA-125 levels significantly decreased from 53.1 ± 157.2 to 21.0 ± 18.4 U/mL ( p = 0.002). Patients with bilateral cysts had lower AMH levels at the second month (1.67 ± 0.6 vs. 3.80 ± 4.1 ng/mL; p = 0.003) despite similar baseline values. Conclusion Bilaterality and cyst volume may negatively affect ovarian reserve postoperatively. The decline in AMH levels, particularly following bilateral ovarian cystectomy, has a significant impact on the ovarian reserve and may have implications for future fertility. Early fertility counselling and ovarian preservation strategies should be considered during surgical planning.