If you are suffering from endometriosis related infertility and are considering IVF, your chances of success are the same as the women without endometriosis, says a recent study. Researchers have found that even though the condition presents with some factors that make pregnancy difficult, endometriosis does not affect IVF success.

The study “The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of Assisted Reproductive Technology,” published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, concludes that endometriosis does not affect the chances of a woman to conceive and have a successful pregnancy through IVF.

Although the endometriosis-affected women produced fewer eggs, their ability to fertilize was not changed.

The results of the study involving more than 22,000 women, contradict earlier suggestions that artificial reproductive technologies may be less effective in women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis accounts for about 40 percent of all cases of infertility in women and this study would be an encouragement to all such women who are looking to become pregnant.

Some previous studies have shown poor IVF results in women with endometriosis, while others found that endometriosis has no effect on IVF outcomes.  

Study results

However, this latest analysis by researchers at the Hospital del Mar in Spain found that there is no significant impact of endometriosis on the result of IVF. Of the total of 22,416 women that they analysed, 3,583 had endometriosis and the rest 18,833 reported of infertility due to tubal factors, hormonal disorders, or other problems.

All of these women underwent IVF or ICSI and it was found that their success rates were not affected by endometriosis.

This research should be of some help to patients, who are unable to decide if they should go for IVF or surgery for endometriosis.

After considering the age of the male partner and the number of fertilized eggs (embryos) transferred to the womb, the researchers found that the rate of live birth were also similar in both groups of women.

Other outcomes, such as clinical pregnancies and miscarriages were also similar between the endometriosis and non-endometriosis groups of women.

Similar findings were observed on grouping the women according to age. Women under 35 years of age with endometriosis had similar IVF outcomes as women without endometriosis in the same age group. In the age groups of 35-40 years the results were also found to be unaffected by endometriosis.

Conclusion

Women diagnosed with endometriosis-associated infertility do not have significantly different outcomes from IVF as women without the disease. Although women with endometriosis produce lesser numbers of eggs, their fertilization rate is not impaired and they have the same chances of achieving a live birth as women seeking IVF due to other reasons.

To know more about endometriosis and your chances of becoming pregnant with IVF, reach out to us via the form on this page.

Resources:

González-Comadran, M., Schwarze, J.E., Zegers-Hochschild, F. et al. The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 15, 8 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-016-0217-2

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