Comparative clinical studies of fertility and infertility in women with endometriosis

To compare clinical characteristics of infertile and fertile patients with endometriosis.

We evaluated medical records of women who underwent surgical treatment of endometriosis (n=284) between January 1999 and December 2003. Our study included only cases of histopathologically proven pelvic endometriosis (n=269). These patients were categorized into two groups named after infertile (n=45) and fertile cases (n=224). Clinical data were compared.

Infertile patients are younger (t student. P=0.0000), have lower weight (Wilcoxon test P=0.0150), lower blood pressure--either systolic (Wilcoxon test P=0.0006) or diastolic (Wilcoxon test P=0.0007), separate noncystic endometriotic leasions occur frequently among these cases (Pearson chi-square P=0.000).

Noncystic endometriotic implants are more strongly related to infertility than endometriomas. The relationship between blood pressure and infertility requires further investigation. endometriosis.