Surgical management of endometriosis with the carbon dioxide laser

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of reconstructive microsurgery with the carbon dioxide laser for the treatment of infertile women suffering from endometriosis. One hundred and eight women evaluated for infertility and endometriosis underwent reconstructive microsurgery with the carbon dioxide laser. All cases were classified in accordance with the American Fertility Society's classification. Postoperatively, conception rates for the mild-to-moderate and the severe-to-extensive groups were estimated by life table methods for analysis. Estimates of the cumulative pregnancy rate were 55% for the mild-to-moderate group and 88% for the severe-to-extensive group. The abortion rate was 17% and the ectopic pregnancy rate was 3%.