Laparoscopic electrosurgical furrowing technique for the treatment of polycystic ovaries

A retrospective analysis of reproductive outcomes was conducted in 30 anovulatory women treated with a new laparoscopic electrosurgical furrowing technique. All patients had polycystic ovary syndrome refractory to ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate and gonadotropin therapy. Bilateral ovarian furrowing was successfully accomplished in all 30 patients without technical difficulty or surgical complications. Average furrowing time was 5 minutes per ovary and all patients were discharged by 12 hours postoperatively. Regular ovulatory function resumed in 25 women (83.3%); the 5 refractory patients were administered clomiphene citrate. Spontaneous conception occurred in 21 ovulatory patients (70.0%) and clomiphene-assisted conception occurred in 3 of the 5 refractory women, for an overall pregnancy rate of 80% (24/30). Twenty-three pregnancies resulted in viable term deliveries; one (4.2%) ended in a first-trimester abortion. These results suggest that the laparoscopic electrosurgical furrowing technique for the treatment of anovulatory infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome refractory to clomiphene citrate and gonadotropin therapy is effective, safe, and easily performed. Further evaluation is warranted to confirm the appropriateness of this procedure.