Technique and results of ovarian microsurgery in preparation for in vitro fertilization

A microsurgical technique was used to free the ovaries in women with severe adnexal adhesions, specifically to facilitate subsequent egg retrieval for in vitro fertilization. The surgical technique is described in detail. Eighteen of these patients had a single attempt at laparoscopic collection of oocytes. From 15 women in whom ovariolysis had been successful, 27 eggs were obtained (mean 1.8 eggs per patient). Three conceptions occurred following embryo transfer and one other patient conceived spontaneously. These results suggest that ovariolysis before extra-corporeal fertilization is worthwhile in selected cases.