Effect of delaying post-operative conception after conservative surgery for endometriosis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether delaying attempts to conceive after surgery for endometriosis impacts on reproductive prognosis. Patients operated on for endometriosis who were not seeking pregnancy at the time of surgery were selected (n=124) from a large survey regarding reproductive outcome of women with the disease. Pregnancy rate and rate of second surgery were compared between women who attempted conception within 12 months after surgery (n=61) and those compared who postponed attempts for 12 months or more (n=63). In women delaying attempted conception, the adjusted incidence rate ratio for pregnancy and repetitive surgery was 0.79 (95% CI 0.46-1.35) and 1.70 (95% CI 0.86-3.38), respectively. In conclusion, attempting conception shortly after surgery appears advisable since delaying is associated with a lower pregnancy rate and a higher rate of recurrence. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance and this advice is thus not mandatory. Larger studies are warranted to validate these conclusions.