The treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility.

Abstract

To review the recent evidence around the treatment of infertility in patients with endometriosis. The management of endometriosis associated infertility remains challenging. There have been an increasing number of prospective observational studies highlighting the role of surgery to enhance assisted conception amongst those with deep rectovaginal endometriosis. Further validation studies confirm the role of the endometriosis fertility index in prediction of reproductive outcomes after surgery, and confirm that it can be employed in counselling patients prior to surgery on their likelihood of spontaneous conception. Further randomized trials are required to establish the role of surgically treating superficial and deep endometriosis and both spontaneous and assisted conception outcomes. Endometriosis continues to present challenges in counselling patients with regards to their fertility prospects. This article reviews the recent research findings that may assist in the management of patients with endometriosis associated infertility.