Study objective: To evaluate the extent of adhesion formation after laparoscopic removal of endometriomas.
Design: Prospective case series.
Setting: A university hospital.
Patients: Nineteen infertile women with ovarian endometriomas.
Interventions: All patients underwent laparoscopic cystectomy with total stripping of the cyst capsule when possible. A second-look laparoscopy was performed after 3 months of postoperative treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog.
Measurements and main results: The extent of adhesion reformation was dependent on the extent and severity of adhesions at initial laparoscopy. One (5.2%) woman had a residual ovarian endometrioma at second-look laparoscopy. De novo adhesion formation was not seen. Nine women (42.8%) conceived during the postoperative follow-up period (range 11-22 mo).
Conclusions: Laparoscopic removal of endometriomas is effective in eradicating the disease. Adhesions at second-look laparoscopy depend on adhesions at the initial laparoscopy. Crude pregnancy rates are satisfactory in infertile women.