What is the optimal medical management of infertility and minor endometriosis?: Analysis and future prospects

David J Cahill, D J Cahill
Human Reproduction · 2002 · vol. 17(5) , pp. 1135–1140 · doi:10.1093/humrep/17.5.1135 · PMID:11980728 · W2166604788
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 25 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review analyzes evidence suggesting oocyte dysfunction contributes to endometriosis-associated infertility, finding ovulation induction beneficial for pregnancy and IVF success comparable to other groups.

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Abstract

By asking the question 'What is the optimal medical management of infertility and minor endometriosis?', it is assumed that endometriosis has a detrimental effect on fertility. The published data suggest that oocyte dysfunction may contribute to infertility associated with endometriosis. This is expressed as a reduction in fertilization and implantation rates; implantation rates to a lesser extent, though still significant. Other evidence for oocyte dysfunction exists, not all of which is consistent. Suppression of ovulation and menstruation to treat endometriosis-associated infertility is not effective. However, ovulation induction, perhaps with intrauterine insemination, does result in pregnancy rates higher than in control cycles, while stimulated IVF success rates are equivalent to those of other diagnostic groups. For the future, angiogenesis is critical to the support of endometriotic deposits and targeted therapies are promised; their role in improving fertility has not yet been explored.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Infertility, Female Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gynecology Gynecology Gynecology Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Prevalence United Kingdom

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (49)

Cited by (25)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK