Conservative surgery for endometriosis in the infertile couple.

Sixty-five infertile patients with moderate or severe endometriosis were treated with conservative surgery. Acosta's classification was used to demonstrate the extent of disease. In 48 women whose partners were normally fertile, 65% conceived, and in 17 whose partners were deficient, 35% achieved pregnancy. The extent of disease, age at the time of surgery, and length of infertility prior to surgery appeared to be significant factors. To intelligently give a prognosis prior to surgery and to achieve maximum pregnancy yield from the surgery, it is important to perform conservative surgery for endometriosis within the context of a complete infertility evaluation.