Endometrioma undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy: its influence on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometrioma on the clinical outcome of IVF treatment.

Methods: Patients who received IVF treatment were retrospectively classified into two groups. Group 1 included 95 patients who received IVF due to tubal occlusion. Group 2 included 127 patients who had received laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy for endometrioma(s) followed by IVF treatment. Clinical outcomes of IVF treatment were compared between two groups.

Results: More oocytes were harvested per retrieval in Group 1 than Group 2 (p < 0.05). The fertilization rate was higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p < 0.05). Although the implantation rate was higher in Group 2 (p < 0.05), the clinical pregnancy rate revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions: Women who received ovarian cystectomy for endometriomas have fewer oocytes harvested during IVF treatment. However, their chance of pregnancy was comparable to patients with tubal problems who underwent IVF treatment.