Simultaneous laparoscopy for endometriotic women undergoing in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate simultaneous laparoscopy in endometriotic women with infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven infertile patients with endometriosis were enrolled in this retrospective study and underwent IVF cycles in a university affiliated hospital. RESULTS: The chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were statistically significantly different between patients with minimal or mild stage endometriosis and patients with moderate or severe stage endometriosis, who received simultaneous laparoscopy and modified IVF with a GnRH antagonist protocol. A higher live birth rate was achieved in IVF patients with minimal or mild stage endometriosis combined with laparoscopic treatment, than in patients who received traditional IVF with prior laparoscopic surgery for endometrioma. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous laparoscopy combined with a modified IVF (GnRH antagonist) protocol may benefit patients with minimal and mild endometriosis. Traditional GnRH agonist IVF cycles may improve the fecundity rates in women with moderate and severe endometriosis after laparoscopic treatment.