Assessment of ovarian reserve after cystectomy versus 'one-step' laser vaporization in the treatment of ovarian endometrioma: a small randomized clinical trial

The Role of Laser and Microwave in Treatment of Endocrine Disorders: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The treatment of endocrine problems like thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) faces significant challenges so that medical professionals worldwide try to find a new therapeutic approach. However, along with common treatments which include medications, hormone replacement therapy, and surgery; there is a growing interest in alternative therapies like laser therapy, which offers a non-invasive and unique technique for treating endocrine disorders alone or in combination with traditional methods. The main goal of this review was to do a systematic review on the role of the laser and Microwave in the treatment endocrine disorders. Methods: In the present systematic review, the most important databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, were searched for the studies examining the effect of lasers on the treatment of endocrine problems by using appropriate keywords and specific strategies from 1995 to 2023. All the studies that were not about lasers and endocrine were excluded. Results: Based on 51 reviewed studies, lasers and radiofrequency ablation such as RFA are effective in the treatment of thyroid diseases, hyperparathyroidism, pancreatic disorders, and sexual dysfunctions. Laser-induced interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) and microwave ablation (MWA) are genuine minimally invasive methods for the treatment of benign nodules, adenomas, and tumor ablation including pancreatic carcinomas and adrenal tumors. Intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) which uses red, UV, and blue light could be effective in treating various metabolic disorders, such as DM. Conclusion: Laser as a cutting-edge and minimally invasive approach could treat various endocrine disorders. It has a great potential to treat and regulate hormonal imbalances, decrease inflammation, and relieve symptoms of various ailments, such as endocrine disorders.

Impact of Ablation Versus Cystectomy for Endometrioma on Ovarian Reserve, Recurrence, and Pregnancy: An Updated Meta-Analysis

This study aimed to compare the impact of ablation and cystectomy for ovarian endometrioma on ovarian reserve, recurrence rates, and pregnancy rates. Databases were searched for studies reporting ovarian reserve (measurement of anti-müllerian hormone [AMH] only), recurrence rates, and/or pregnancy rates after cystectomy and ablation for ovarian endometrioma. Six randomized clinical trials and five prospective cohort studies were included in this meta-analysis. All included studies had a low risk of bias. After ablation, weighted mean difference (WMD) between post- and pre-operative AMH values was - 0.40 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.61 to -0.19, p = 0.0002, I2 = 0%). After cystectomy, the WMD of AMH was - 1.08 (95% CI: -1.34 to -0.82, p < 0.00001, I2 = 48%). The intergroup comparison revealed that pre-operative AMH values were similar between the two groups, but post-operative AMH was significantly higher in the ablation group (WMD: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.13 to 0.63, p = 0.003, I2 = 3%). Subgroup analysis showed that the favorable effects of ablation compared to cystectomy are evident after three months of operation, in a bilateral setting, or with the laser ablation method. Overall recurrence rate (risk ratio [RR]: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.08 to 2.12, p = 0.02, I2 = 0%) and one-year recurrence rate (RR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.30 to 4.31, p = 0.005, I2 = 0%) were significantly higher in the ablation group than in the cystectomy group. Pregnancy rates were similar between the two groups (odds ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.52, p = 0.20, I2 = 72%). These results demonstrate that ablation could result in a smaller serum AMH decrement than cystectomy, but the recurrence rate could be higher after ablation.

The effect of surgery or medication on pain and quality of life in women with endometrioma. A systematic review and meta-analysis

For patients with endometrioma it is unclear what treatment: surgery and/or medication, is more effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life (QoL). This systematic review and meta- analysis aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence on the effects of surgery and/or medication (i.e. analgesics and/or hormonal medication) on pain and QoL. A search through CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase was conducted. The study population had to be women treated for endometrioma. Retrospective or prospective studies reporting about QoL and/or the following types of pain were reviewed: dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and pain that was not well defined in the included article (referred to as pain). We performed a meta-analysis on mean visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and proportions of patients experiencing different types of pain over time. QoL was described narratively. Out of 11.515 articles, 76 studies including 7148 patients were included for the systematic review. The meta-analysis consisted of 52 studies including 4556 patients. No studies compared medication with surgery. And there were no studies on analgesics. Meta-analysis showed that surgery and/or medication often reduced VAS scores and proportions of all types of pain over time. Surgery and medication combined seems more effective in reducing VAS scores of pain compared to surgery alone, but not to medication alone (estimated mean difference = 0.17, p < 0.0001 and -0.98, p = 0.0339). QoL improved after medication (follow up ≤ 12 months) and QoL was unchanged or worsened after surgery and medication combined (follow up ≤ 24 months). However, these were results from a total of 5 studies. Both surgery and medication reduce endometriosis-related pain in patients with endometrioma. However, there is lack of uniform, good quality data comparing surgery with medication to draw firm conclusions. For better-informed treatment decisions, further studies including a standardized core-outcome set at fixed follow-up times, are necessary.

What is the role of robotic surgery in ovarian cystectomy with fertility preservation?

To investigate the role of robotic single-site (RSS) ovarian cystectomy in fertility preservation, which was compared with single-port laparoscopic (SPL) surgery based on AMH changes. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of total 156 patients who underwent SPL (n = 72) or RSS (n = 84) surgery with the da Vinci® Si or Xi system. The pre/post-operative AMH levels and total diameter of ovarian cysts were measured. In addition to the surgical method, AMH changes were compared according to the laterality, multiplicity, and pathology of ovarian cysts. A comparison of the characteristics of the SPL group and RSS group, revealed that there were no significant differences in the average age, the diameter of the ovarian cyst, and the number of locule. There were also no statistical differences between the pre-operative and post-operative AMH levels and the average surgical time including the docking time in robotic surgery. A comparison based on the surgical methods, revealed that the decrease in post-operative AMH was lower in the RSS group (24.2 ± 35.9%) than in the SPL group (34.9 ± 29.1%) significantly (p = 0.044). In patients with endometriosis, the decrease in AMH was greater, than that in patients without endometriosis. A longer operation time, larger ovarian cysts and multi-locular cysts were associated with lower AMH level in both the SPL and RSS groups (Pearson correlation coefficient: - 0.320, p = 0.0001, - 0.218, p = 0.007, - 0.236, p = 0.003, respectively). RSS ovarian cystectomy could be a promising new therapeutic option for fertility preservation in complex cases to avoid an additional side port.

Laser vaporization compared with other surgical techniques in women with ovarian endometrioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare outcomes after laparoscopic cystectomy versus laser vaporization in women of reproductive age with ovarian endometrioma.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Our systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021281781) and was done according to the PRISMA 2020 checklist. Studies (published until October 2021) were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases (key words "cystectomy", "laser vaporization", and "endometrioma"). The search was conducted independently by two investigators (L.P. and S.I.). Inclusion criteria were: women of reproductive age undergoing surgery for symptomatic endometriomas larger than 30 mm. The exclusion criteria were: women who undergo conservative treatment. Outcomes were: risk ratio for recurrence, ovarian reserve and pregnancy rates. The studies included were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized clinical trials (prospective controlled, prospective cohort, retrospective studies, and other types of studies) that included a minimum of 10 patients and written in English. Tools recommended by the Cochrane Society achieved risk-of-bias assessment.

RESULTS

Totally, 874 studies were found, 9 studies were included in qualitative synthesis (822 patients). All the authors compared the efficacy and safety of cystectomy or laser vaporization in reproductive-aged women with ovarian endometrioma. The overall risk of bias for the randomized trials was 80% 'some concerns' and 20% 'low', and for the cohort studies, 50% 'some concerns' and 50% 'low'. The primary meta-analysis focused on recurrence rates (4 studies included) with no statistically significant differences found between these two interventions (RR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.21, P = 0.13). The next meta-analysis estimated antral follicle count (3 studies) which was significantly lower in cystectomy group (RR = - 2.56, 95% CI - 3.71 to - 1.42, P < 0.0001). Pregnancy rates were analyzed in 3 studies with no statistically significant difference (RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.14, P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no statistical difference in the recurrence rate and pregnancy rates, but the antral follicle count was higher in the laser vaporization group. However, we need more clinical trials to make stronger recommendations.

Construction of the machine learning-based live birth prediction models for the first in vitro fertilization pregnant women

BACKGROUND

This study was to conduct prediction models based on parameters before and after the first cycle, respectively, to predict live births in women who received fresh or frozen in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the first time.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study population consisted of 1,857 women undergoing the IVF cycle from 2019 to 2021 at Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital. The data between 2019 and 2020 were completely randomly divided into a training set and a validation set (8:2). The data from 2021 was used as the testing set, and the bootstrap validation was carried out by extracting 30% of the data for 200 times on the total data set. In the training set, variables are divided into those before the first cycle and after the first cycle. Then, predictive factors before the first cycle and after the first cycle were screened. Based on the predictive factors, four supervised machine learning algorithms were respectively considered to build the predictive models: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and light gradient boosting machine (LGBM). The performances of the prediction models were evaluated by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy.

RESULTS

Totally, 851 women (45.83%) had a live birth. The LGBM model showed a robust performance in predicting live birth before the first cycle, with AUC being 0.678 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.651 to 0.706] in the training set, 0.612 (95% CI: 0.553 to 0.670) in the validation set, 0.634 (95% CI: 0.511 to 0.758) in the testing set, and 0.670 (95% CI: 0.626 to 0.715) in the bootstrap validation. The AUC value in the training set, validation set, testing set, and bootstrap of LGBM to predict live birth after the first cycle was 0.841 (95% CI: 0.821 to 0.861), 0.816 (95% CI: 0.773 to 0.859), 0.835 (95% CI: 0.743 to 0.926), and 0.839 (95% CI: 0.806 to 0.871), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The LGBM model based on the predictive factors before and after the first cycle for live birth in women showed a good predictive performance. Therefore, it may assist fertility specialists and patients to adjust the appropriate treatment strategy.

Minimally invasive surgery for ovarian endometriosis as a mean of improving fertility: Cystectomy vs. CO2 fiber laser ablation what do we know so far?

Minimally invasive surgery emerged in the 1980s as a safe and effective technique which requires smaller incisions and, usually, a shorter hospital stay compared to traditional surgery. Since then, minimally invasive surgery has expanded in many surgical specialties. One of its newest application in gynecology stands in the infertility management of young women with unexplained infertility or suspected endometriosis. In these cases, laparoscopy allows to diagnose and treat the disease aiming to increase at best the chances of spontaneous pregnancy or trough assisted reproductive technology. Nowadays, minimally invasive surgical approach of ovarian endometriosis consists of either laparoscopic cystectomy or ablative techniques such as laparoscopic CO2 fiber laser vaporization. Although cystectomy represents the gold standard according to the latest Cochrane review, some endometriosis experts are worried about its detrimental effect on healthy ovarian parenchyma and suggest preferring a less aggressive approach such as CO2 fiber laser vaporization. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the available evidences about the impact of the two surgical procedures on ovarian reserve markers and pregnancy outcome.

Microscopic, Macroscopic and Thermal Impact of Argon Plasma, Diode Laser, and Electrocoagulation on Ovarian Tissue

BACKGROUND/AIM

To compare the microscopic, macroscopic and thermal damage inflicted to ovarian tissue by conventional monopolar and bipolar energy, argon plasma coagulation (APC) and diode laser.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Bovine ovaries were used as a substitute for human tissue and subjected to the four aforementioned techniques and the inflicted damage was measured. Sixty fresh and morphologically similar cadaveric bovine ovaries were divided into five equal groups, each group was subjected to one of the following energy applications for both 1 and 5 s: Monopolar, bipolar electrocoagulation, diode laser, preciseAPC^® and forcedAPC^® Ovarian temperatures were measured at 4 and 8 s after treatment. Formalin-fixed ovarian specimens were examined by pathologists regarding macroscopic, microscopic and thermal tissue damage.

RESULTS

None of the ovaries reached the temperature producing severe damage (40°C) after 1 s of energy transfer. Heating of adjacent ovarian tissue was least pronounced when preciseAPC^® and monopolar electrocoagulation were applied (27.2±3.3°C and 28.2±2.9°C after 5 s of application, respectively). Conversely, 41.7% of the ovaries subjected to bipolar electrocoagulation for 5 s overheated. ForcedAPC^® resulted in the most pronounced lateral tissue defects (2.8±0.3 mm after 1 s and 4.7±0.6 mm after 5 s). When the modalities were applied for 5 s, the electrosurgical instruments (mono- and bipolar) and preciseAPC^® induced similar lateral tissue damage (1.3±0.6 mm, 1.1±1.6 mm and 1.2±1.3 mm, respectively). preciseAPC^® created the shallowest defect of all the techniques (0.05±0.1 mm after 5 s of application).

CONCLUSION

Our study hints at superior safety profiles of preciseAPC^® and monopolar electrocoagulation compared to bipolar electrocoagulation, diode laser and forcedAPC^® for ovarian laparoscopic surgery.

Diagnosis and treatment of early-stage endometriosis by Transvaginal Hydro laparoscopy

Background: Transvaginal Hydro Laparoscopy (THL) is known as a minimal invasive procedure allowing endoscopic exploration of the female pelvis. Objective: To evaluate the possibilities of the THL as a tool for early diagnosis and treatment of minimal endometriosis. Materials and methods: A retrospective study of a consecutive series of 2288 patients referred for fertility problems to a tertiary centre for reproductive medicine was undertaken. Mean duration of infertility was 23.6 months (SD ±11-48), mean age of patients was 31.25 (SD± 3.8y). With normal findings at clinical and ultrasound examination patients underwent, as part of their fertility exploration, a THL. Main outcome measures: Evaluation of feasibility, identified pathology and pregnancy rate. Results: Endometriosis was diagnosed in 365 patients (16%); the localisation was higher on the left side (n=237) than on the right side (n=169). Small endometriomas, with diameters between 0.5 and 2 cm, were present in 24.3% (right side in 31, left side 48 and bilateral 10). These early lesions were characterised by the presence of active endometrial like cells and a pronounced neo-angiogenesis. Destruction of the endometriotic lesions with bipolar energy resulted in an in vivo pregnancy rate (spontaneous/IUI) of 43.8% (CPR after 8 months: spontaneous 57.7%; IUI/AID 29.7%). Conclusion: THL allowed in a minimally invasive way an accurate diagnosis of the early stages of peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis with the possibility of offering treatment with minimal damage. What is new? This is the largest series reporting the usefulness of THL for the diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis in patients without obviously visible preoperative pelvic pathology.

Development and validation of a live birth prediction model for expected poor ovarian response patients during IVF/ICSI

BACKGROUND

A number of live birth predictive model during assisted reproductive technology treatment have been available in recent years, but few targeted evaluating the chances of live birth in poor ovarian response(POR) patients. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram based on POSEIDON criteria to predict live birth in patients with expected POR.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study using clinical data from 657 patients in POSEIDON Groups 3 and 4 (antral follicle count [AFC] ≤5 and AMH <1.2 ng/ml) in the Center for Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, and Construction a nomogram model t.

RESULTS

Among 657 expected POR patients, 111 (16.89%) had live births, and 546 (83.11%) did not have live births. These were divided into a training set(n=438) and a validation set (n=219). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97), BMI (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.09-3.67), AMH (OR = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.45-8.51), normal fertilized oocytes (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.21-1.63), and the basal FSH (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80-0.98) of the female were independent factors predicting live birth in patients with expected POR. Then, an individualized nomogram prediction model was built from these five factors. The area under the ROC curve of the live birth prediction model was 0.820 in the training set and 0.879 in the validation set.

CONCLUSION

We have developed a nomogram combining clinical and laboratory factors to predict the probability of live birth in patients with an expected POR during IVF/ICSI, which can helpful for clinician in decision-making. However, the data comes from the same center, needs a prospective multicenter study for further in-depth evaluation and validation of this prediction model.

Endometriosis-associated infertility: From pathophysiology to tailored treatment

Despite the clinically recognized association between endometriosis and infertility, the mechanisms implicated in endometriosis-associated infertility are not fully understood. Endometriosis is a multifactorial and systemic disease that has pleiotropic direct and indirect effects on reproduction. A complex interaction between endometriosis subtype, pain, inflammation, altered pelvic anatomy, adhesions, disrupted ovarian reserve/function, and compromised endometrial receptivity as well as systemic effects of the disease define endometriosis-associated infertility. The population of infertile women with endometriosis is heterogeneous, and diverse patients' phenotypes can be observed in the clinical setting, thus making difficult to establish a precise diagnosis and a single mechanism of endometriosis related infertility. Moreover, clinical management of infertility associated with endometriosis can be challenging due to this heterogeneity. Innovative non-invasive diagnostic tools are on the horizon that may allow us to target the specific dysfunctional alteration in the reproduction process. Currently the treatment should be individualized according to the clinical situation and to the suspected level of impairment. Here we review the etiology of endometriosis related infertility as well as current treatment options, including the roles of surgery and assisted reproductive technologies.

Efficacy of ablation and sclerotherapy for the management of ovarian endometrioma: A narrative review

Ovarian cystectomy is the preferred technique for the surgical management of ovarian endometrioma. However, other techniques such as ablation or sclerotherapy are also commonly used. The aim of this review is to summarize information regarding the efficacy of ablation and sclerotherapy compared to cystectomy in terms of ovarian reserve, the recurrence rate, and the pregnancy rate. Several studies comparing ablation versus cystectomy or sclerotherapy versus cystectomy in terms of the serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) decrement, endometrioma recurrence, or the pregnancy rate were identified and summarized. Both ablation and cystectomy have a negative impact on ovarian reserve, but ablation results in a smaller serum AMH decrement than cystectomy. Nonetheless, the recurrence rate is higher after ablation than after cystectomy. More studies are needed to demonstrate whether the pregnancy rate is different according to whether patients undergo ablation or cystectomy. The evidence remains inconclusive regarding whether sclerotherapy is better than cystectomy in terms of ovarian reserve. The recurrence rates appear to be similar between sclerotherapy and cystectomy. There is not yet concrete evidence that sclerotherapy helps to improve the pregnancy rate via in vitro fertilization in comparison to cystectomy or no sclerotherapy.

Reproductive and postsurgical outcomes of infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis

Background

This study aimed to summarize and analyze clinical characteristics and reproductive outcomes in postoperative deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 55 reproductive-aged patients who were diagnosed with DIE, wished to conceive and underwent resection surgery at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, from January 2009–June 2017. Those with any plausible infertility factor or abnormalities in the partner’s semen analysis were excluded. Patient characteristics, preoperative symptoms, infertility history, intraoperative findings and reproductive outcomes were followed up and recorded. Risk factors for reproductive outcomes were identified for women who became pregnant versus those who did not by univariate logistic regression. Additionally, pre- and postoperative endometriosis health profile questionnaire-30 (EHP-30), Knowles–Eccersley–Scott Symptom questionnaire (KESS), Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores were used to evaluate the effect of DIE surgery on quality of life.

Results

The average age was 30.22 ± 3.62 years, with no difference between the pregnancy and nonpregnancy groups. The average follow-up time was 26.57 ± 14.51 months. There were 34 pregnancies (61.82%): 24 (70.59%) conceived spontaneously and 10 (29.41%) by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Twenty-eight patients (82.35%) had term deliveries. The interval between operation and pregnancy was 10.33 ± 5.6 (1–26) months. Univariate analysis showed that a lower endometriosis fertility index (EFI) score (EFI < 8) was a risk factor for infertility (OR: 3.17 (1.15–10.14), p = .044). For patients with incomplete surgery, postoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration improved the pregnancy rate (p < 0.05). Regarding quality of life, there was significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the postoperative EHP-30, KESS and CMSS scores compared with preoperative scores in both groups. Although there was no obvious difference in FSFI scores, significant improvement in dyspareunia was observed (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Overall, the postoperative pregnancy rate of DIE patients was 61.82%. Surgical management of DIE for patients with complaints of pain and with pregnancy intentions was feasible and effective. Long-term expectant treatment should not be advised for patients with lower EFI scores (EFI < 8), and postoperative IVF–ET may be a good choice. More cases should be enrolled for further study, and randomized studies are required.

Effects of intravenous tranexamic acid on ovarian reserve and intra-operative blood loss during laparoscopic cystectomy of endometriotic cyst: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Background

Strategies to preserve ovarian function after ovarian endometriotic cyst removal have been reported in many studies; however, no study has evaluated tranexamic acid administration during surgery.

Objective

To evaluate feasibility of conducting a definitive trial and assessing the potential efficacy of tranexamic acid on ovarian reserve and intra-operative blood loss by comparing mean differences in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels following laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy between tranexamic acid and control groups.

Materials and methods

A parallel two-arm pilot trial was conducted with 40 participants with endometriotic cysts who underwent laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. They were randomized 1:1 to either 1 g tranexamic acid (TXA) or no TXA (n = 20 per group). TXA was administered to the participants immediately after induction of general anesthesia and intubation. The primary outcome was the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial in terms of design and procedures (such as recruitment rate, retention, safety of intravenous 1 gm of TXA, sample size verification) and assess the efficacy of TXA on the ovarian reserve and intra-operative blood loss by comparing mean difference of AMH levels between TXA and control groups at pre- and 3 months post-surgery.

Results

The recruitment and successful completion rates were 95% and 100%. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The mean difference of serum AMH levels (pre- and 3 months post-surgery) between the TXA and control groups was not significantly different. When performing a subgroup analysis, the mean difference of AMH levels (pre- and 3 months post-surgery) seemed to be higher in the bilateral than in the unilateral ovarian cyst group but not significantly different. Operating time was significantly longer in bilateral than in unilateral cysts. No post-operative complications or adverse effects were found.

Conclusion

The full randomized controlled trial for evaluating effects of TXA administration during laparoscopic cystectomy for endometrioma on ovarian reserve was shown to be feasible. Several modifications should be added for improving feasibility, for example, increasing the TXA dose, modifying TXA administration, focusing on either patients with unilateral or bilateral ovarian cysts, and exploring other outcome measures, e.g., surgeons’ satisfaction.

Trial registration

Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR20190424002, Registered 24 April 2019.

Role of surgical treatment in endometriosis

Endometriosis can take one of three forms depending on its clinical presentation and management: endometriotic ovarian cyst (ovarian endometrioma), superficial or peritoneal endometriosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).¹Among them, DIE is considered the most aggressive, and the patient is often affected by more than one type together. The therapeutic methodology should not be influenced by a combination of different types of endometriotic lesion. According to the clinical context and the patient's needs, the treatment of this pathology can be medical or surgical. Although medical therapy could improve endometriosis-associated symptoms, it never offers a definite treatment for symptomatic patients, who often require surgical treatment. The rationale behind endometriosis surgical treatment is to achieve the complete removal of all lesions through a one-step surgical procedure; to obtain promising long-term results for pelvic pain, recurrence rate, and fertility; and to protect the functionality of the involved organs. Achieving these results depends on the total removal of the pathology from the pelvis, in an attempt to preserve, as much as possible, the healthy tissues surrounding the site of the disease. The choice of a surgical approach rather than medical therapy is subject to the patient's expectations, such as pregnancy desire, the effectiveness of treatment compared to possible complications, the type of pain and its intensity, and the location and severity of the disease. In this context, surgical management using a multidisciplinary endometriosis team is an important factor for achieving good outcomes.

Impact of Surgical Management of Endometrioma on AMH Levels and Pregnancy Rates: A Review of Recent Literature

Ovarian endometrioma are found in up to 40% of women with endometriosis and 50% of infertile women. The best surgical approach for endometrioma and its impact on pregnancy rates is still controversial. Therefore, we conducted a literature review on surgical management of ovarian endometrioma and its impact on pregnancy rates and ovarian reserve, assessed by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) serum levels. Ovarian cystectomy is the preferred technique, as it is associated with lower recurrence and higher spontaneous pregnancy rate. However, ablative approaches and combined techniques are becoming more popular as ovarian reserve is less affected and there are slightly higher pregnancy rates. Preoperative AMH level might be useful to predict the occurrence of pregnancy. In conclusion, AMH should be included in the preoperative evaluation of reproductive aged women with endometriosis. The surgical options for ovarian endometrioma should be individualized. The endometrioma ablation procedure seems to be the most promising treatment.

Ovarian responsiveness in assisted reproductive technology after CO2 fiber laser vaporization for endometrioma treatment: preliminary data

BACKGROUND

Data about endometrioma ablation using energies with little thermal spread reported good results in terms of ovarian reserve and postoperative pregnancy rates. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of one step CO<inf>2</inf> fiber laser vaporization for endometrioma on subsequent controlled ovarian stimulation.

METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study included a consecutive series of infertile patients who have undergone CO<inf>2</inf> fibre laser vaporization for endometrioma treatment. The primary endpoint was to assess the number of follicles per ovary growing during controlled ovarian stimulation. The secondary endpoints included the number of oocytes retrieved, the total number of embryos obtained and the cumulative clinical pregnancy rate per patient treated.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients underwent assisted reproductive technology after surgery for endometriosis-related infertility. In unilateral operated ovaries at the end of controlled ovarian stimulation no significant differences emerged from comparison of total recruited follicles in the operated ovary and in the contralateral ovary (P=0.55). If considering only bilateral endometriomas, the number of recruited follicles at the end of controlled ovarian stimulation was similar in both operated ovaries (P=0.79). The number of cumulative clinical pregnancies was 15 (57.7%; 95% CI: 38.5-76.9%). When comparing women aged ≤35 years to those aged >35 years, controlled ovarian stimulation outcomes were significantly higher in the younger patients. Age at the time of assisted reproductive technology was the only independent predictor for follicular growth during ovarian hyperstimulation (95% CI: -1.27 to -0.116, P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

CO2 laser-treated endometrioma is associated with favorable reproductive assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Impact of endometrioma surgery on ovarian reserve: a prospective, randomized, pilot study comparing stripping with CO2 laser vaporization in patients with bilateral endometriomas

Objective

To assess ovarian reserve through antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian volume (OV) determination after decapsulation (stripping technique) or CO₂ laser vaporization in the surgical treatment of patients with bilateral ovarian endometriomas.

Methods

This prospective, randomized, blinded, self-controlled pilot study was set in a tertiary university hospital between January 2017 and December 2017, and included consecutive patients with bilateral ovarian endometriomas ≥3 cm. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the title ‘Impact on ovarian reserve according to the type of ovarian endometrioma excision: laser versus conventional cystectomy’; NCT 03826355. For each patient, the endometrioma on one side was randomly selected to undergo CO₂ laser vaporization and the contralateral endometrioma to undergo laparoscopic decapsulation.

Results

A total of 16 patients were included. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in OV and AFC levels at baseline. At the 6-month follow-up, OV and AFC levels were significantly higher in the laser-treated group versus the stripping technique.

Conclusion

Lower OV and AFC levels following excisional surgery for endometrioma versus CO₂ laser vaporization suggest a higher impact on ovarian reserve after the stripping procedure.

Effect of Endometrioma cystectomy on cytokines of follicular fluid and IVF outcomes

Background

Endometriosis patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment suffer from lower success rates. The success of IVF-ET is related to the receptivity of the uterus and the quality of embryos, and it is well known a patient’s endometriosis does not impair the receptivity. Whether endometrioma should be removed surgically before IVF remains controversial. Studies have shown that endometrioma removal decreases peritoneal inflammation, but little information is available regarding the alteration in the cytokines of follicular fluid. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of endometrioma cystectomy on the outcome of IVF and the levels of intrafollicular inflammatory cytokines and to investigate correlations between cytokine concentrations and IVF outcomes.

Method

A total of 41 women with endometriosis-associated infertility undergoing IVF were recruited; 13 patients (surgery group, S group) had surgery to remove the endometrioma before enrollment, and 28 patients (non-surgery group, NS group) were untreated before IVF. The follicular fluid from a dominant follicle was collected during oocyte retrieval, and the concentrations of sixteen soluble cytokines known to be involved in ovarian function were measured.

Results

Among the soluble molecules examined in this study, chemokines and growth factors and a few are inflammatory cytokines were found in the follicular fluid of patients with endometriosis. In addition, the expression levels of chemokines, growth factors, and most inflammatory cytokines did not differ between the S and NS groups, but interleukin (IL)-18 levels were significantly lower in the NS group. However, the levels of IL-18 in the FF did not correlate with IVF cycle parameters. The implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were similar between the two groups, but the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level was lower in the S group than in the NS group.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that endometrioma surgery may potentially reduce the ovarian reserve and has little impact on the success rate of IVF. Ovarian endometriomas are not associated with cytokine profiles in FF from infertile women, and they are not likely to affect the quality of the oocyte and embryo as a result of an inflammatory mechanism.

Fertility Preservation in Women With Endometriosis

Infertility affects 30% to 50% of women with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis are at risk of decreased ovarian reserve, both because of the pathophysiology of the disease and iatrogenic injury resulting from surgical intervention. Fertility preservation must occur at multiple levels, including careful selection of surgical candidates, avoidance of repeat procedures, and meticulous surgical technique. Fertility preservation with oocyte or ovarian tissue cryopreservation may be considered on an individual basis for women with endometriosis, particularly those at risk of bilateral ovarian injury, such as women with bilateral endometriomas.

When more is not better: 10 'don'ts' in endometriosis management. An ETIC * position statement

A network of endometriosis experts from 16 Italian academic departments and teaching hospitals distributed all over the country made a critical appraisal of the available evidence and definition of 10 suggestions regarding measures to be de-implemented. Strong suggestions were made only when high-quality evidence was available. The aim was to select 10 low-value medical interventions, characterized by an unfavorable balance between potential benefits, potential harms, and costs, which should be discouraged in women with endometriosis. The following suggestions were agreed by all experts: do not suggest laparoscopy to detect and treat superficial peritoneal endometriosis in infertile women without pelvic pain symptoms; do not recommend controlled ovarian stimulation and IUI in infertile women with endometriosis at any stage; do not remove small ovarian endometriomas (diameter <4 cm) with the sole objective of improving the likelihood of conception in infertile patients scheduled for IVF; do not remove uncomplicated deep endometriotic lesions in asymptomatic women, and also in symptomatic women not seeking conception when medical treatment is effective and well tolerated; do not systematically request second-level diagnostic investigations in women with known or suspected non-subocclusive colorectal endometriosis or with symptoms responding to medical treatment; do not recommend repeated follow-up serum CA-125 (or other currently available biomarkers) measurements in women successfully using medical treatments for uncomplicated endometriosis in the absence of suspicious ovarian cysts; do not leave women undergoing surgery for ovarian endometriomas and not seeking immediate conception without post-operative long-term treatment with estrogen-progestins or progestins; do not perform laparoscopy in adolescent women (<20 years) with moderate-severe dysmenorrhea and clinically suspected early endometriosis without prior attempting to relieve symptoms with estrogen-progestins or progestins; do not prescribe drugs that cannot be used for prolonged periods of time because of safety or cost issues as first-line medical treatment, unless estrogen-progestins or progestins have been proven ineffective, not tolerated, or contraindicated; do not use robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis outside research settings. Our proposal is to better address medical and surgical approaches to endometriosis de-implementing low-value interventions, with the aim to prevent unnecessary morbidity, limit psychological distress, and reduce the burden of treatment avoiding medical overuse and allowing a more equitable distribution of healthcare resources.

Endometrioma and ovarian reserve: effects of endometriomata per se and its surgical treatment on the ovarian reserve

Endometrioma is the cystic lesion of ovaries originating from endometrial glands and stroma. This condition is present in 17 to 44% of endometriosis patients. The ovarian reserve is decreased in women with endometriomas, as compared to similarly aged healthy women or women with other benign ovarian cysts. Some data suggest women with endometrioma experience a faster decline in AMH than age matched healthy women. Multiple well-designed studies consistently demonstrate that surgical excision of endometrioma is associated with a decline in the ovarian reserve. Recent studies with long term follow up suggest some recovery in the markers of ovarian reserve, but they almost never reach preoperative levels. The energy modality and choice of hemostatic method may be important. Limited data suggest ablation of the cyst wall with plasma energy is associated with less harm to reserve with similar recurrence rates as compared with excision and bipolar coagulation. In conclusion, bipolar diathermy seems to be the most harmful hemostatic method to ovarian reserve and its use should be cautiously minimized.