Endometriosis and infertility: our experience over five years.
During a 5-year period, we diagnosed endometriosis by laparoscopy in 163 infertile patients (7.9% of the infertile population). Seventy-one women presented with minimal endometriosis, 32 women a mild form, 38 women a moderate form and 22 women a severe form. Only 40 patients (24.5%) were found to have endometriosis as the only abnormality in a complete fertility work-up. One hundred and twenty patients were treated with Danazol (600 mg daily for 4-6 months) and 33 of them conceived (27.5%). Twenty-eight patients received conservative surgical treatment associated with Danazol therapy and 11 of them conceived (39.2%). In the 15 patients with minimal endometriosis, who had no therapy but expectant management, there were two conceptions within one year (13.3%). The anticipation of minimal disease in patients with endometriosis as the only abnormality produced about the same results as achieved by active treatment (pregnancy rate of 33.3% after expectant management and 36.3% after treatment). These results suggest that minimal endometriosis can be anticipated only when there are no co-existing factors of infertility.
Federici
D
D
II Clinica Ostetrico-Ginecologica dell'Università di Milano, Italy.
Conti
E
E
Costantini
W
W
Bucchino
D
D
Fornaro
R
R
Boerci
M
M
Uglietti
A
A
Polvani
F
F
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D003613:Danazol