Strategies to Preserve and Optimize Fertility for Patients with Endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is commonly associated with dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. When medical therapy fails, surgery is often recommended; unfortunately, endometriosis surgery can adversely impact fertility and ovarian reserve in women desiring future childbearing. This review will focus on mechanisms of infertility in endometriosis patients as well as strategies for optimizing fertility in endometriosis patients when surgery is indicated. In addition, fertility preserving techniques such as oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation as well as issues relevant to in vitro fertilization for patients with endometriosis are discussed.