Endometriosis and ART

Endometriosis, as a clinical entity, has been recognized and intensely investigated for well over 100 years. Despite the accumulation of an enormous amount of information, uncertainty still exists regarding etiologies, clinical consequences, and treatment effi cacy. The two most common complaints leading to a diagnosis of endometriosis are pelvic pain and infertility. The advancement of innovative medical and surgical approaches, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and laparoscopically guided laser ablation, have proven quite effective in improving many of the symptoms associated with endometriosis. It does appear that assisted reproductive technique (ART) is becoming an indispensable asset in providing affected couples with viable pregnancies, and with the accumulation of randomized trials, the role of both long and short GnRH protocols is becoming clear.