Ovarian endometriomas do not adversely affect pregnancy success following treatment with in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
Ovarian endometriomas have an uncertain impact on outcome following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some authors describe a poor response to ovulation induction, and others observe decreased pregnancy success rates. Conversely, IVF outcomes similar to those of patients undergoing IVF for tubal-factor infertility have also been reported. To determine the impact of ovarian endometriomas on pregnancy success in our IVF program, we identified patients with endometriosis and compared outcomes that were stratified by the presence or absence of an endometrioma at the time of follicular aspiration.


METHODS
One hundred eight patients with a diagnosis of endometriosis treated with IVF were identified, retrospectively. In this group, 24 patients completed 29 cycles in which an ovarian endometrioma was aspirated at the time of oocyte retrieval, and 84 patients without endometriomas completed 147 cycles. The cycles from these two groups were compared for differences in peak estradiol, number of mature follicles, number of oocytes, number of embryos transferred, and clinical pregnancies.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to peak estradiol, mature follicles, number of oocytes, number of embryos transferred, or clinical pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
From this retrospective observational analysis it appears that aspiration of an endometrioma at the time of oocyte retrieval has no adverse effect on outcome. This information may prove helpful when faced with the decision to cancel an IVF treatment cycle in patients with this uncommon complication.
Isaacs
J D
JD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA.
Hines
R S
RS
Sopelak
V M
VM
Cowan
B D
BD
D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006062:Gonadotropins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol