Electrocoagulation of pelvic endometriotic lesions with laparoscopic control.

Twenty-eight patients presenting with initial complaints of infertility or chronic pelvic pain were found to have pelvic endometriosis at laparoscopy. Destruction of the endometriotic lesions by means of electrocoagulation was performed via laparoscopy in a group of 19 patients. The remaining nine patients did not undergo such management. In the treatment group, seven of the 11 patients with chronic pain experienced complete relief of their symptoms, and six of the eight patients with infertility became pregnant postoperatively. Patients in the control group had a less favorable outcome. Only one of five patients with chronic pain had relief and one of four patients with infertility became pregnant following laparoscopy without cauterization. Electrocoagulation of pelvic endometriotic lesions under laparoscopic control appears to be satisfactory for the management of selected patients with chronic pelvic pain or infertility.