2.2. Study Plan and Interventions
MDD
Patients diagnosed with MDD were called for control on the third to the fifth day of their cycles before beginning SSRI antidepressant treatment. After a 12-h fast, venous blood samples were collected on the third to the fifth day of their cycles. Serum FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), E2, and AMH levels were measured in blood samples, and all transvaginal USGs were performed on the same day as the blood sampling. Endometrial thickness (ET), total AFC, and the volume of both ovaries were all measured using transvaginal USG. The ET was measured at the thickest point of the longitudinal segment. Follicle sizes were calculated by taking the average of the diameter measurements in three planes, and follicles with diameters ranging from 2 to 10 mm were considered antral. After measuring the diameters of each ovary in three vertical planes, the ovarian volumes were calculated using the formula D1 × D2 × D3 × 0.52. All cases in the MDD group started using SSRI antidepressants prescribed by the psychiatrist after the above examinations and evaluations were performed by the gynecologist. Following six cycles (roughly six months), on the third to the fifth day of their menstrual cycles, serum FSH, LH, E2, and AMH levels were re-evaluated after a 12-h fast, and the same researcher performed a transvaginal USG. All ET, total AFC, and ovarian volume measurements were repeated using transvaginal USG, and all results were recorded.Following a 12-h fast, venous blood samples were collected from healthy volunteer women in the control group on the third to the fifth day of their cycles. The serum levels of FSH, LH, E2, and AMH were measured, and transvaginal USG was performed in all cases on the same day the serum samples were collected by the same researcher. As in the MDD group, following six cycles (roughly six months), on the third to the fifth day of their menstrual cycles, serum FSH, LH, E2, and AMH levels were re-evaluated after a 12-h fast, and the same investigator performed a transvaginal USG. Antidepressants were not prescribed because the control group consisted of healthy women who did not have MDD. 