Reproductive performance in infertile women with rectovaginal endometriosis: is surgery worthwhile?

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to ascertain whether the incidence of pregnancy is increased and time-to-conception is reduced in infertile women with rectovaginal endometriosis undergoing conservative surgery compared with those on expectant management.

STUDY

DESIGN

A total of 105 infertile women under the age of 40 years with rectovaginal endometriosis and no other associated major infertility factor underwent first-line conservative surgery at laparotomy or expectant management according to a shared decision-making approach.

RESULTS

Among the 44 women who had resection of rectovaginal endometriosis, 15 became pregnant, compared with 22 of the 61 women who choose expectant management (24-month cumulative probabilities, 44.9% and 46.8%, respectively; log-rank test, chi2(1) = 0.75; P = .38). One major and 9 minor postoperative complications occurred. Significant differences in pain-free survival time in favor of the surgery group were observed for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and dyschezia.

CONCLUSION

Conservative surgery for rectovaginal endometriosis in infertile women does not modify the reproductive prognosis although it does increase pain-free survival time.