title: Increased pregnancy rates after ultralong postoperative therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether ultralong GnRH analog (GnRH-a) therapy after surgical treatment of endometriosis and before ART influences the pregnancy rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University clinic for reproductive medicine and gynecologic endocrinology.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ten patients with stage II to IV endometriosis according to ASRM criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five patients received GnRH-a for 6 months after surgery and subsequently underwent up to 3 cycles of ART, and 55 patients received 3 cycles of ART alone immediately after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnancy rate per patient was higher among patients who received follow-up treatment with GnRH-a. The same results were found in patients with stage III or IV endometriosis who were undergoing IUI or IVF/ICSI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultralong GnRH-a therapy increases the pregnancy rate of ART in patients with severe endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Gynecologic Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. juergen.kleinstein@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rickes
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kropf
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleinstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D017273:Goserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017273:Goserelin