The use and effectiveness of in vitro fertilization in women with endometriosis: the surgeon's perspective

OBJECTIVE: To assess the use and effectiveness of IVF in a cohort of women undergoing surgery for endometriosis. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Four hundred thirty-eight patients who attempted to become pregnant after conservative surgery for endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy and IVF use. RESULT(S): One hundred ninety-four women conceived in vivo (44%). One hundred twenty-four women did not undergo IVF despite their infertility status (51% of the group of women who failed to conceive in vivo). One hundred thirty-nine women underwent at least one IVF attempt. The cumulative rate of IVF use at 36 months of infertility was 33%. The live-birth/ongoing pregnancy rate per started cycle and per patient was 10% and 20%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): In a large tertiary care and referral center, IVF played only a minor role in the treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility.