In vitro fertilization in patients with ovarian endometriomas.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to establish whether operative treatment of recurrent ovarian endometriosis improves the prognosis of in vitro fertilization.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

A retrospective analysis of one hundred endometriosis patients admitted to Tampere University Hospital for IVF treatment. Forty-five patients had an ovarian endometrioma during IVF treatment, 36 of the cases being recurrences after a previous operation. Fifty-five patients had ovarian endometriomas operated without recurrence. The patient groups with or without endometriosis did not differ in age, duration of infertility, sperm parameters, amount of gonadotropins required per oocyte and number of retrieved oocytes.

RESULTS

The patients with ovarian endometriosis had more embryos (mean 3.9) than women without endometriomas (mean 2.8) (p<0.05) and the respective pregnancy rates per IVF cycle were 38% and 22%. Patients with endometriomas had a live birth rate of 27% compared with 20% in women with no endometriomas.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of a small endometrioma does not reduce the success of IVF treatment.