Conservative surgical treatment of endometriosis

In the period 1979-1983, 102 patients with endometriosis underwent conservative surgery at Ia Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Milan University. Treatment indications, techniques and results are presented. 34.3% of the women were in stage I, 51% in stage II and 14.7% in stage III of the American Fertility Society classification. Postoperatively, the incidence of dysmenorrhea fell from 63.7% to 15.7%, deep dyspareunia from 53.3% to 17.6% and chronic pelvic pain 21.6% to 11.8%. In 1-6 years' follow-up of the 53 women wanting children, the postoperative birth-rate was 68.3% in stage I patients, 59% in stage II and 37.5% in stage III. Endometriosis treatment is still only symptomatic, and conservative surgery, using atraumatic procedures, should aim at restoring fertility and resolving pain symptomatology.