Ovarian Stimulation for In Vitro Fertilization and Reproductive Outcome after Surgical Treatment of Endometriosis Compared with Tubal Factor Infertility

Abstract

Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility among reproductive-age women. A low ovarian reserve is associated with the presence of endometriotic cysts, and this is accentuated even more after surgery. Patients with a history of endometrioma are a special category of poor ovarian reserve requiring in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of ovarian stimulation and embryo transfer in women with a history of ovarian surgery for endometrioma compared with a control group with tubal factor infertility. A total of 146 patients had previous laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma (group A) and their IVF results were compared with 136 patients with documented tubal obstruction (group B). In both groups, the most frequently used ovarian stimulation protocol was the short antagonist in 84.24% versus 80.88%. The number of stimulation days was between 6 and 15 days in the two groups with a mean value of 12.76 days in group A and 9.47 days in group B. The clinical pregnancy rate was 26.77% in the endometrioma group and 39.68% in the tubal obstruction group. Patients with a history of endometrioma are less likely to conceive than those with tubal obstruction despite having similar ovarian reserve and stimulation results.