Diagnosis and management of endometriosis combined with infertility

  (1) Patients with endometriosis combined with infertility should first undergo a comprehensive infertility examination according to the infertility pathway to exclude other infertility factors.  (2) Drug therapy alone is not effective for natural pregnancy.  (3) Laparoscopy is the preferred surgical treatment modality. Surgery requires assessment of the type, stage and EFI score of endometriosis, which allows assessment of the severity of the endometriosis lesion and evaluation of the prognosis of infertility, and patients are given fertility guidance based on the EFI score.  (4) Young patients with mild to moderate endoheterosis and high EFI score can expect a natural pregnancy for 6 months after surgery and be given fertility guidance; those with low EFI score and high-risk factors (age over 35 years, infertility for more than 3 years, especially primary infertility; severe endoheterosis, pelvic adhesions, incomplete excision of lesions; incompetent fallopian tubes) should actively undergo assisted reproductive technology for pregnancy. GnRH-a should be used as pretreatment before assisted conception, usually for 3 to 6 months.  (5) For recurrent endometriosis or decreased ovarian reserve function, assisted reproductive technology is recommended.  Assisted reproductive technology treatment: including superovulation (COH)-intrauterine insemination (IUI) and IVF-ET, chosen according to the patient’s specific situation.  (1) COH-IUI: Indications: mild or moderate endometriosis; mild male factor infertility (mild oligozoospermia, etc.); cervical factor and unexplained infertility with patent fallopian tubes. The single-cycle pregnancy rate is about 15%; if 3 to 4 cycles are unsuccessful, the treatment modality of assisted reproductive technology should be adjusted.  (2) IVF-ET: IVF-ET is preferred for patients with severe endometriosis, advanced infertility and tubal incompetence. IVF-ET should be considered for those who have failed other methods (including natural pregnancy, ovulation induction, artificial insemination and after surgical treatment.) GnRH-a should be pretreated for 3-6 months before IVF-ET to help improve the pregnancy success rate (pregnancy rate can be increased by 4 times).  The duration of drug administration is adjusted according to the severity of the patient’s endometriosis and ovarian reserve function.