Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination for infertility associated with endometriosis: a retrospective analysis

Abstract 

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination for infertility associated with endometriosis.

Material and methods A retrospective analysis of 260 patients with the only diagnosis of endometriosis, or male factor, or tubal factor, or unexplained infertility were performed: a total of 56 patients with different stages of endometriosis, a control group consisting of 38 patients with male factor infertility, a group of 26 patients with tubal factor infertility and a group of 140 patients with others (unexplained infertility, ovulation disorders, cervical factor). Pregnancy rate, hormone levels, endometrial thickness and number of follicles were analyzed.

Results Clinical pregnancy rates per patient were similar between endometriosis, male factor, tubal factor, and others including unexplained infertility, ovulation disorders and cervical factor groups (10.7%, 5.4%, 11.5%, 17.9%, respectively; p>0.05). Clinical pregnancy rates per patient were not effected between the 2 subgroups of endometriosis as minimal to mild and moderate to severe [5.1% (2/39) versus 23.5% (4/17), p=0.19].

Conclusion Endometriosis did not affect the clinical pregnancy rate per patient compared to the other infertility factors. Endometriosis of various stages have no effect on the success of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation combined with intrauterine insemination.