{"paper_id":"c7ba0d23-0002-4093-b5d5-3f42059acf42","body_text":"Abstract\nSeveral pathogenetic mechanisms have been postulated to explain the association between endometriosis and subfertility. However, to date, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. In this study, we hypothesized that the reduced exploitation of the natural chances of conception could be an additional detrimental factor. Due to dyspareunia or the need for hormonal treatment to temper pelvic pain, one may expect affected women to exploit less the chances of natural pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study of 292 women undergoing IVF, we investigated the severity of pelvic pain symptoms, the sexual function (using the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), and the reproductive strategies of women with (n = 62) and without (n = 230) endometriosis. Basal clinical and demographic characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Conversely, all pelvic pain symptom scores were increased in women with endometriosis. Endometriosis patients also showed greater pain at the FSFI, but no other significant differences were detected as regards sexual function. The use of hormonal contraceptive agents did not differ between the study groups. Moreover, questions aimed at disentangle whether affected women exploited less the natural chances of pregnancy did not reveal any significant difference. In conclusion, this study does not support the hypothesis that women with endometriosis exploit less the chances of natural pregnancy, despite the presence of pelvic pain.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nde Ziegler D, Borghese B, Chapron C. Endometriosis and infertility: pathophysiology and management. Lancet. 2010;376(9742):730–8.\nVercellini P, Viganò P, Somigliana E, Fedele L. Endometriosis: pathogenesis and treatment. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2014;10(5):261–75.\nSomigliana E, Vigano P, Benaglia L, Busnelli A, Berlanda N, Vercellini P. Management of endometriosis in the infertile patient. 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The relationship between sexual functioning among couples undergoing infertility treatment: a pair of perfect gloves. Compr Psychiatry. 2014;55(Suppl 1):S1–6.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding author\nEthics declarations\nConflict of Interest\nThe first author (ES) declares a conflict of interest with Merck-Serono and Ferring because he has handled grants of research from both companies. All the other authors declared no potential conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nSomigliana, E., Facchin, F., Busnelli, A. et al. Natural Pregnancy Seeking in Subfertile Women with Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 27, 389–394 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-019-00068-7\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nVersion of record:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-019-00068-7","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}