The role of in vitro fertilization in infertile patients with endometriosis.

Thirty-nine cycles were studied in patients with a history of endometriosis who went through in vitro fertilization. In 15 cycles, there was no evidence of endometriosis; in 10 cycles, the patients had mild or moderate disease; in 14 cycles, severe or extensive endometriosis was found. The pregnancy rates per cycle were 33%, 60%, and 7%, respectively (groups I and II, no significant difference; groups II and III, P less than 0.01). The difference was due to the different number of oocytes aspirated at laparoscopy because of technical problems in the cases with severe and extensive disease. There was also a significant difference in the number of pregnancies per transferred cycles. There was no difference in the luteal phase in the three groups. The reproductive potential, which seemed to be similar in groups I and II, was severely impaired in the group with severe endometriosis.