Infertile women with endometriosis who have IVF treatment are equally likely to conceive and have a successful pregnancy as those undergoing fertility treatments for other reasons.

The findings of a new study contradict earlier suggestions that women with endometriosis may not benefit equally well from reproductive technologies.

The study “The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of Assisted Reproductive Technology” was published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.

The data, gathered in a study involving more than 22,000 women sends an encouraging signal to women with endometriosis who want to become pregnant. There were no differences in outcomes between women with endometriosis-caused infertility and those with other problems, even though those with endometriosis produced fewer egg cells.

Endometriosis is one of the main reasons women seek the help for infertility problems. Up to 40% of all infertile women have endometriosis.

There is still no consensus as to whether infertility caused by endometriosis can be readily treated with reproductive technologies. Some studies show poor outcomes for these women. Other studies report that the endometriosis  diagnosis does not impact the chances of a successful fertility treatment.

Researchers at the Hospital del Mar in Spain, examined a registry of women undergoing assisted reproduction. They identified 3,583 women with endometriosis and 18,833 women with infertility caused by tubal factor, hormonal disorders or unexplained issues, who made up the control group in this study.

Women underwent either IVF or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Although women with endometriosis produced fewer eggs, the fertilization rate and the rates of live births did not differ between the two groups.

Clinical pregnancies and miscarriage were also similar between the groups.

Read more: https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-016-0217-2