Assisted reproduction in women affected by endometriosis: Our experience [Procreazione medicalmente assistita nelle pazienti affette da endometriosi: La nostra esperienza]

Objective. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of endometriosis in determining a condition of infertility, and, consequently, estimate the results of assisted reproductive techniques in patients with endometriosis. Patients. To carry out the study it was used a cohort of 60 patients of the Center for Reproductive Physiopathology "S. Bambino" Hospital in Catania, in a period between October 2006 and October 2009; these patients were undergoing assisted reproduction techniques like ICSI or FIVET. Methods. It has been performed a retrospective study, compared with a control group. The study group consists of 30 patients with endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy, of which 15 with mild endometriosis and 15 with moderate or severe endometriosis. The control group consists of 30 apparently healthy patients who have recourse to in vitro reproduction techniques due to male factor infertility. Results. It has been reported a significantly lower pregnancy rate in women with severe endometriosis (13.3%) and mild endometriosis (26.6%) than in the control group (40%). The percentage of "children in her arms" shows that patients with severe endometriosis have lower percentages (13.3%) than women with mild stage of infertility (20%) and than women of the control group (33.3%). Conclusions. Endometriosis affects negatively the prognosis of pregnancy and the percentage of "children in her arms" during treatment IVF/ICSI.