THE IMPACT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOME OF INFERTILE PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the presence and severity of endometriosis affect the reproductive outcome of infertile patients. STUDY DESIGN: The conception rates of 2080 infertile women, 1263 who had endometriosis and 817 who did not have endometriosis, were analyzed retrospectively by means of the chi(2) test. Depending on the stage of the disease patients who had endometriosis-associated infertility underwent expectant management, danazol therapy, or minor or major conservative surgery. The patients who failed to conceive after these conventional treatments were enrolled in the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program. RESULTS: The conception rates were virtually identical regardless of the presence or absence of endometriosis (30.7% vs 30.0%). The outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer was not affected either by the presence or the severity of the disease. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis had no impact on the reproductive outcome of infertile patients in this series unless the anatomy of the pelvic organs was heavily distorted, which can occur in the advanced stages of the disease.