Patients with stages III and IV endometriosis have a poorer outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer than patients with tubal infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of IVF in patients with stages III and IV endometriosis.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

The Sara Racine IVF Unit, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.

PATIENT(S): Fifty-eight patients with stages III and IV endometriosis and 60 patients with tubal infertility.

INTERVENTION(S): IVF-ET for all couples.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fertilization, pregnancy, and birth rates.

RESULT(S): The comparison between patients with endometriosis and those with tubal infertility indicated that the former had a poor IVF outcome in terms of reduced fertilization rate (40% vs. 70%), reduced pregnancy rate per cycle (10.6% vs. 22.4%), and reduced birth rate per cycle (6.7% vs. 16.6%). The differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION(S): The results show an unfavorable outcome of IVF-ET in patients with endometriosis when compared with those who have tubal infertility.