Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Surgical treatment of endometriosis in infertility

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Conclusion

Selective removal of the endometriosis must be associated with careful restoration of the pelvic organs and a normal tubo-ovarian relationship. Meticulous attention should be paid to the repair of the ovarian and tubal surfaces and the pelvic peritoneum to avoid postoperative adhesions. Such adhesions will interfere with the tuboovarian function, produce pseudocyst formation and encapsulation of the ovary.

The use of fine dissection techniques and the continuous protection of the pelvic peritoneum with warm irrigation fluid, glass hooks and silastic sheets are some aspects of the method used. However, the most important factor avoiding iatrogenic trauma is “gentle tissue handling” which often meansachange of attitude on the part of the surgeon.

Although reconstructive surgery of endometriosis is unlikely to be a cure of all infertility factors associated with endometriosis it can restore fertility in patients with severe and extensive degrees almost to the same extent as in patients with mild and moderate degrees of endometriosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acosta, A. A., Buttram, V.C., Besch, P. K., Malinak, R. L., Franklin, R. R., Vanderheyden, J. C. (1973). A proposed classification of endometriosis.Obstel. Gynecol. 42, 19–25.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Fertility Society (1979). Classification of endometriosis.Fertil. Steril. 32, 633–634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeckx, W., Gordts, S. Brosens, I. (1980).Ovarian microsurgery. In Microsurgery of Female Infertility. (Ed.) Crosignani P.G. & Rubin B.C., London, Academic Press, pp. 59–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brosens, I., Koninckx. Ph., Corveleyn, P.A., (1978). A study of progesterone, oestradiol 17β, prolactin and LH levels and of the luteal appearance of the ovaries in patients with endometriosis.Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 85, 246–250.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dmowski, W.P., Rao, R., Scommenga, A. (1980). The luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome and endometriosis.Fertil. Steril. 33, 30–34.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, T. S., Metz, S. A., Grunert, G. M., O'Brien, W. F., (1980). Peritoneal fluid in endometriosis.Fertil. Steril. 34, 280–281.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, T.S., O'Brien, W.F., Ramwell, P.W., Metz, S. A. (1981). Peritoneal fluid thromboxane B2 and 6-Keto-prostaglandin F1 α in endometriosis.Am. J. Obstet. Gvnaecol. 140, 401–404.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordts, S., Boeckx, W., Brosens, I., (in press). Microsurgical treatment of pelvic endometriosis in infertility.

  • Halme, J., Becker, S., Hammond, M.G., Raj, S. (1982). Pelvic macrophages in normal and infertile women: the role of patent tubes.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 142, 890–895.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haney, A.F., Muscato, J.J., Weinberg, J.B.(1981). Peritoneal fluid cell population in infertility patients.Fertil. Steril. 35, 696–698.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kistner, R.W.,Siegler, A.M., Behrman,S.J. (1977). Suggested classification for endometriosis: relationship to infertility.Fertil. Steril. 28,1008–1010.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koninckx, P.R., Renaer, M., Brosens, I.A. (1980a). Origin of peritoneal fluid in women: an ovarian exudation product.Br. J. Obstet. Gvnaecol. 87, 177–183.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koninckx, P.R., Ide, P., Vandenbroucke, W., Brosens, I.A. (1980b). New aspects of the pathophysiology of endometriosis and associated infertility.J. Reprod. med. 24, 257–260.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marik, J., Hulka, J. (1978). Luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome. A subtle cause of infertility.Fertil. Steril. 29, 266–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meldrum, D.R., Shamonki, J., Clark, K.E., Rubinstein, L.M. Lebherz.T.B. (1977). The relationship of prostaglandins to infertility associated with endometriosis. presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Coast Fertility Society. Palm Springs. Calif. October 1977.

  • Soules, M.R., Malinak, L.R., Bury, R., Poindexter, A. (1976). Endometriosis and anovulation. A co-existing problem in the infertile female.Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 125, 412–416.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academisch Ziekenhuis St. Rafaël, Leuven, Belgium

    I. Brosens, S. Gordts, W. Boeckx & Ph. Koninckx

Authors
  1. I. Brosens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Gordts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Boeckx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ph. Koninckx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brosens, I., Gordts, S., Boeckx, W. et al. Surgical treatment of endometriosis in infertility. Ir J Med Sci 152 (Suppl 2), 18–21 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945276

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02945276

Keywords

Search

Navigation