title: The prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with early stages of endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The presence of fimbrial pathology in advanced endometriosis is clearly understood. However, little is known about the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in early stages of endometriosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with infertility with early stages of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II/III).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group (Group 1) consisted of 315 infertile women who were found to have stage I or stage II endometriosis, and the control group (Group 2) consisted of 152 infertile women without endometriosis (Group 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic evaluation for the presence and type of fimbrial pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of fimbrial pathology was significantly higher in infertile patients with early stages of endometriosis (50.2%) compared with infertile patients with no endometriosis (17.8%, p <.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data suggest the presence of fimbrial pathology in many patients with early stages of endometriosis. Such pathology may act as a mechanical factor interfering with the ovum pick-up mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan 48503, USA. reprod1@hurleymc.com
authors.forename: Mostafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Abuzeid
authors.forename: Mohamed F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mitwally
authors.forename: Abeer I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Formentini
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Omar M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Abuzeid
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012189:Retrospective Studies