Outcome of ovarian drilling in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) in inducing ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who failed to conceive after medical methods of ovulation induction.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A retrospective study of all women who underwent LOD as a treatment for anovulatory infertility between January 2010 and December 2011 was conducted. Women diagnosed to have PCOS by the Rotterdam criteria were considered for the study. Those who had PCOS but were associated with male factor infertility, deep infiltrating endometriosis and submucous fibroids were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 43 women underwent LOD during the study period. Majority were aged 26 to 30 years and two-thirds were overweight or obese. Most (72%) of them had primary infertility. Other factors which could have contributed to infertility such as superficial endometriosis, septate uterus and unilateral tubal block were observed in 30.2% of the women, which were dealt with concomitantly. When we excluded the 14% who were lost to follow up, 23 of 43 (53.5%) women achieved pregnancy and almost 70% of them did so within the first 6 months. None of our study population had ovarian hyperstimulation or multiple pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

LOD thus not only helps in regulating ovulation and enhancing conception rates but also provides an opportunity to assess the pelvis for other potential causes of subfertility which could be treated at the same time. We therefore believe that diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy should be offered quite high-up in the hierarchy of infertility investigations and treatment.