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Intervention Review

Laparoscopic surgery for subfertility associated with endometriosis

  1. Tal Z Jacobson1,*,
  2. James M N Duffy2,
  3. David Barlow3,
  4. Cindy Farquhar4,
  5. Philippe R Koninckx5,
  6. David Olive6

Editorial Group: Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group

Published Online: 7 OCT 2009

Assessed as up-to-date: 12 AUG 2002

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001398

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jacobson TZ, Duffy JMN, Barlow D, Farquhar C, Koninckx PR, Olive D. Laparoscopic surgery for subfertility associated with endometriosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001398. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001398.

Author Information

  1. 1

    South Auckland Clinical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Auckland, New Zealand

  2. 2

    Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK

  3. 3

    University of Glasgow, Wolfson Medical School Building, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

  4. 4

    University of Auckland, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Auckland, New Zealand

  5. 5

    Univ. Hospital Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Leuven, Belgium

  6. 6

    Wisconsin Fertility Institute, not applicable, Middleton, Wisconsin, USA

*Tal Z Jacobson, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, South Auckland Clinical School, Middlemore Hospital, Private Bag 93311, Auckland, New Zealand. tal.jacobson@virgin.net.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: Unchanged
  2. Published Online: 7 OCT 2009

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary

Background

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands or stroma in sites other than the uterine cavity. It is variable in both its surgical appearance and clinical manifestation often with poor correlation between the two. Surgical treatment of endometriosis aims to remove visible areas of endometriosis and restore anatomy by division of adhesions.

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of subfertility associated with endometriosis. The review aims to compare outcomes of laparoscopic surgical interventions compared to no treatment or medical treatment with regard to improved fertility.

Search strategy

We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's specialised register of trials (searched Feb 2000), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2000), MEDLINE (1966-July 2001), EMBASE (1980-July 2001), the National Research Register (Issue 1, 2000) and reference lists of articles.

Selection criteria

Trials were selected if they were randomised and compared the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of subfertility associated with endometriosis versus other treatment modalities or placebo.

Data collection and analysis

Two studies had data appropriate for inclusion within the review. These studies compared laparoscopic surgical treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis compared with diagnostic laparoscopy only. The recorded outcomes included live birth, pregnancy, fetal losses and complications of surgery.

Main results

Meta-analysis of the two randomised trials show improvement in infertility associated with endometriosis with laparoscopic surgery. The largest trial (Marcoux 1997) clearly supports this outcome with an increased chance of pregnancy (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.24) and ongoing pregnancy rate after 20 weeks (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.22) but the smaller trial (Gruppo Italiano 1999) does not show benefit (pregnancy OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.88; livebirth OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.32 to 2.28). Combining ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates there was a statistically significant increase with surgery (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.57).

Authors' conclusions

The use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis may improve success rates. The relevant trials have some methodological problems and further research in this area is needed.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary

Laparoscopic surgery for subfertility associated with endometriosis

The use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of minimal and mild endometriosis may improve success rates. The relevant trials have some methodological problems and further research in this area is needed.

View Full Article (HTML) Summary (59K)Standard (183K)Full (203K)