Fertility, pregnancy and perioperative outcomes after operative hysteroscopy for uterine septum: a network meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Septate uterus is a congenital malformation associated with adverse reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. It remains controversial whether hysteroscopic septoplasty should be recommended for the treatment of septate uterus, and it is also unclear if different hysteroscopic methods have more favorable outcomes. This study aims to compare the available hysteroscopic techniques of septoplasty for fertility, reproductive, and perioperative outcomes. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases up to April 2023 without language restrictions. Eligible studies had to compare two or more different methods of hysteroscopic septoplasty in women with septate uterus and report on fertility and pregnancy outcomes after a follow-up. Perioperative outcomes were also examined. Data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers using a standardized form. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form and Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2). RESULTS: Out of 561 studies identified, 9 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The comparison of different hysteroscopic septoplasty techniques based on the energy used showed higher pregnancy rates after mechanical septoplasty in comparison to electrosurgery, while miscarriage and live birth rates were comparable. Laser vs. electrosurgery and mechanical techniques of septoplasty had comparable pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rates. The network meta-analysis after comparing every different method used showed significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate in scissor group in comparison to resectoscope. No significant differences were found among the techniques regarding miscarriage rate and live birth rate. CONCLUSION: In summary, this systematic review and network meta-analysis suggests that hysteroscopic septoplasty with scissors is associated with higher pregnancy rates compared to resectoscope. However, the limited evidence available and small sample sizes in the included studies indicate that these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are required to determine the effectiveness of various hysteroscopic techniques and guide clinical decision-making in the management of this condition.

Αn optimized, simplified and clinically approved culture system to produce, in large scale, dendritic cells capable of priming specific T cells.

Cancer immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DCs) able to induce specific immune responses to naïve T lymphocytes raises great research interest. However, the extremely complex and expensive methods used to produce DCs, combined with the limited number of autologous DCs in the circulation make any application almost impossible. Aim of the study is the development of an optimized and simplified system to easily produce in large scale cord blood-derived DCs, loaded with common tumor antigens, capable of promoting controlled Th1 immunoresponses following clinically approved maturation with vaccines. CD34+cells cultured in the presence of a cytokine cocktail in miniPERM® bioreactors and the generated DCs were matured using anti-flu vaccines. Autologous T cells plated with DCs pulsed with overlapping peptides CEA and WT1 for multiple stimulations. 200 billion of myeloid DCs were produced and matured in just 8 h in bioreactors, presenting an increased expression of the co-stimulatory molecules and also high levels of Th1 related cytokines. Upon just the 2nd stimulation, the T cells exhibited specificity following stimulation with the CEA/WT1 peptides and strong cytotoxic capacity in co-culture with a colorectal cancer (CRC)-cell line. The high produced doses of DCs, easily maturated with clinically approved agents, and capable of priming specific T cells, could potentially strengthen the further progress in DCs-mediated cancer immunotherapy field.

Adenomyosis and Infertility: A Literature Review.

Background and Objectives: Adenomyosis (the presence of ectopic endometrial glands and stroma below the endometrial-myometrial junction) is a benign condition which is increasingly diagnosed in younger women suffering from infertility. The aim of this narrative review was to study the pathophysiology and prevalence of adenomyosis, the mechanisms causing infertility, treatment options, and reproductive outcomes in infertile women suffering from adenomyosis. Materials and Methods: A literature search for suitable articles published in the English language was performed using PubMed from January 1970 to July 2022. Results: The literature search retrieved 50 articles that met the purpose of this review and summarized the most recent findings regarding the accuracy of diagnostic methods, pathophysiology, and the prevalence of adenomyosis and optimal strategies for the treatment of infertile women with adenomyosis. Conclusions: Adenomyosis is a common gynecological disorder, affecting women of reproductive age. It negatively affects in vitro fertilization, pregnancy and the live birth rate, as well as increases the risk of miscarriage. With the advent of non-invasive diagnoses with MRI and TVUS, the role of adenomyosis in infertility has been better recognized. Overall, more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to provide strong data on the accuracy of diagnostic methods, the pathophysiology and the prevalence of adenomyosis, the fertility outcomes of patients and the optimal strategy for the treatment.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation in endometriosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of human, animal and in vitro studies on vitamin D (vit D) substitution in endometriosis. The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise and qualitatively synthesize the results of the available studies that examine the supplementation of vit D for endometriosis treatment. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in four electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase) and grey literature for original research articles on humans, animals and in vitro models published in any language. RESULTS: Four human studies, four animal studies and four in vitro studies were included. Quantitative synthesis of human studies showed no significant effect of vit D intake for dysmenorrhea (2 studies, 44 vit D vs 44 placebo, mean -0.71, 95% CI -1.94, 0.51) and non-cyclic pelvic pain (2 studies, 42 vit D vs 38 placebo, mean 0.34, 95% CI -0.02, 0.71). Regarding reproductive outcomes in women with endometriosis after in vitro fertilization, the only available study showed no differences between women taking vit D and women taking placebo. Three of the four included animal studies showed regression of endometriotic implants when treated with vit D. The in vitro studies demonstrated that vit D decreases invasion and proliferation of endometriotic lesions without affecting apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although in vitro and animal studies suggest regression of the endometriotic implants and decrease of invasion and proliferation after vit D supplementation, this was not reflected in the results of the meta-analysis, which showed no benefit of vit D supplementation in patients with endometriosis and dysmenorrhea or non-cyclic pelvic pain as well as on the outcome of IVF treatment. However, given the heterogeneity and the diversity of the available studies, more research is required to shed light on the role of vit D supplementation in women with endometriosis.

Molecular Advances in Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome.

Preeclampsia (PE) constitutes one of the principal reasons for maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The circumstance typically implicates formerly healthful normotensive women, after 20 weeks of gestation, typically withinside the third trimester, without regarded threat elements or past deliveries. PE can be further complicated with hemolysis and thrombocytopenia, leading to the emergence of HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low platelets). Both conditions are classified as hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP), and their pathogenesis has been linked to an excessive maternal inflammatory response, accompanied by enhanced endothelial activation. Several studies have found that in pregnancies affected by PE/HELLP, von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen levels (vWF:Ag) are significantly elevated, while its cleaving protease (ADAMTS-13, A Disintegrin-like and Metalloprotease with Thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) activity is normal to decreased. Furthermore, the higher urine excretion of the terminal complement complex C5b-9, as well as its greater deposition in the placental surface in preeclamptic women, imply that the utero-placental unit's distinctive deficits are intimately tied to disproportionate complement activation. The goal of this updated evaluation is to provide the most up-to-date molecular advances in the pathophysiology of PE/HELLP syndromes. Recent medical data on vWF:Ag levels in patients with PE, ADAMTS-13, and dysregulation of the complement system, are highlighted and evaluated. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between those entities and the progression of the disease, as well as their significance in the diagnostic process. Finally, considering the difficulties in analyzing and controlling those symptoms in pregnant women, we can provide a current diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm.

Sentinel lymph node mapping in endometrial cancer to reduce surgical morbidity: always, sometimes, or never.

Introduction: Surgical staging of nodal status is of utmost significance to determine the stage of endometrial cancer and construct a targeted treatment plan. Systematic lymphadenectomy has for years been the procedure of choice for staging purposes, enabling thorough assessment of lymph nodes. Nevertheless, it is associated with increased morbidity and severe postoperative complications. In an attempt to avoid the disadvantages of lymphadenectomy, the use of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been examined as an alternative staging procedure.The purpose of the present review is to summarize and provide up-to-date evidence about the role of SLN biopsy in the staging and management of endometrial cancer cases in the terms of optimal technique, efficacy, safety, and postoperative morbidity, as an alternative approach to regional lymphadenectomy. Material and methods: A thorough literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and SCOPUS to identify recent primary research and previous review articles that explore the use of SLN mapping as a staging procedure in patients with endometrial cancer. Results: There is increasing evidence that SLN mapping is efficient in identifying metastatic nodal disease without compromising oncological safety, achieving comparable or even superior detection rates to those of lymphadenectomy, when optimal technique and careful intraoperative nodal assessment are applied. Conclusions: Sentinel lymph node mapping can safely replace lymphadenectomy as an acceptable alternative staging method for endometrial cancer; however, future research might further strengthen this suggestion by resolving potential areas of doubt and debate, especially for high-risk endometrial cancer cases.

Treatment of endometriosis: a review with comparison of 8 guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is a common clinical entity between women of reproductive age, with a prevalence of about 10%. Due to the variety of endometriosis-associated symptoms, a great variety of treatments have been implemented. The aim of this review is to give an overview on therapeutical approaches of eight national and international widely used guidelines. METHODS: Six national (College National des Gynecologues et Obstetriciens Francais, National German Guideline (S2k), Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, American College of Obstetricians (ACOG) and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) and two international (World Endometriosis Society, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) guidelines are included in this review. CONCLUSION: All the above-mentioned guidelines agree that the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestogens are therapies recommended for endometriosis associated pain. Concerning infertility, there is no clear consensus about surgical treatment. Discrepancies are also found on recommendation of the second- and third-line treatments.

Diagnostic performance of HPV E6/E7 mRNA testing towards HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunostaining as a biomarker of high-risk HPV recurrence in Greek women surgically treated for their cervical lesions.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of E6/E7 HPV-mRNA overexpression towards HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry in a post-op population to verify if this biomarker can be effectively used as indicator of successful cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) treatment. METHODS: Our study retrospectively analyzed 197 patients of our Colposcopy Clinic between January 2013 and September 2020 coming with an abnormal Pap smear suggestive for colposcopy, and after a series of follow-ups including liquid-based cytology (LBC) and punch-biopsy sampling, there were surgically treated. LBC was used for cytology and molecular analysis of the three HPV-related biomarkers. RESULTS: Six months after treatment, 93% of the HPV-mRNA-positive women became negative while this applied to only 80.2% of the HPV-DNA-positive women. HPV persistence was 6.9% at 6-12 months after treatment. The comparison among cytology, colposcopy, HPV-DNA test, and HPV-mRNA test after treatment revealed that the last one is the only with a strong correlation with actual severity (histology during treatment) (ρ = 0.345, p = 0.006) implying that clinical cases with more severe CIN may have higher chances of unsuccessful treatment. HPV-mRNA test had higher sensitivity (100%), specificity (96.88%), and positive predictive value (45.45%) for CIN2+ recurrent lesions when compared with HPV-DNA testing (80%, 82.81%, 10.81% respectively) and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry (80%, 95.83%, 33.33% respectively) while their negative predictive values were similar. CONCLUSIONS: E6/E7 mRNA detection has higher diagnostic values for the prediction of treatment failure compared with HPV-DNA testing and p16/Ki67 immunocytochemistry, and as an outcome could be used as predictive indicator of CIN-treatment status.

Laparoscopic treatment of deep endometriosis with a diode laser: our experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether laparoscopic treatment with a diode laser is feasible, safe, and effective in symptomatic patients affected by deep endometriosis (DE). METHODS: This retrospective study was performed using medical record data. The surgical reports, chronic pain scores, and quality of life (QoL) data were evaluated for 50 patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery between November 2017 and March 2019 at two university hospitals (Monserrato (CA) and Foggia, Italy). Indications for surgery were chronic pelvic pain and/or infertility in patients who wished to conceive spontaneously. Endometriosis lesions/nodules were excised using a diode laser (Leonardo®, Biolitec® DUAL 45) that can combine 980 and 1470 nm wavelengths transmitted through a 1000 µm conical optical fibre. RESULTS: The median patient age was 32 years (range 21-44), with a body mass index (BMI) mean of 21.7  ±  2.9 kg/m2. The mean operation time was 147 min (range 106-190). No intraoperative or early complications (< 30 days) were reported. All patients left the hospital, on average, within 3 days (range 2-9 days) after surgery. A significant improvement in pain was observed at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up (p < 0.01) in all patients. Moreover, patients reported a significant QoL improvement at the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The diode laser confirmed its feasibility and safety for treating endometriosis. During the shaving surgical procedure, the diode laser system ensures a safe and effective laparoscopic dissection of deep endometriotic lesions. Further comprehensive randomized trials are necessary to confirm these preliminary data in terms of efficacy, recurrence rates, and pregnancy outcomes.

Long-term effects of treatment of central precocious puberty with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs every three months.

BACKGROUND: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs represent the treatment of choice in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP). Recently, GnRH analogs that can be administered every 3 months have been developed and appear to be as safe and effective as one-monthly formulations. However, there are limited data regarding its long term safety and efficacy profile. We aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy treatment of CPP with GnRH analogs every 3 months. METHODS: We prospectively studied all patients who were diagnosed with CPP in our center between January 2015 and December 2019. All patients were treated with intramuscular leuprolide acetate 11.25 mg every 3 months. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with CPP were included in the study. Mean follow-up was 3.1 years. Height gain ranged between 4 and 6 cm. Bone mineral density (BMD) was not affected. Body mass index (BMI) increased in all subjects but none was obese at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of patients with CPP with GnRH analogs every 3 months induces substantial increases in height and does not affect BMI or BMD. Therefore, it represents an attractive option for these young patients.

Operative vaginal delivery: a review of four national guidelines.

There is a broad range in the rates of operative vaginal deliveries (OVD) worldwide, which reflects the variety of local practice patterns, the number of trained clinicians and the lack of international evidence-based guidelines. The aim of this study was to review and compare the recommendations from published guidelines on OVD. Thus, a descriptive review of guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on instrumental vaginal birth was conducted. All the guidelines point out that the use of any instrument should be based on the clinical circumstances and the experience of the operator. The indications, the contraindications, the prerequisites and the classification for OVD are overall very similar in the reviewed guidelines. Further, they all agree that episiotomy should not be performed routinely. The RCOG, the RANZCOG and the SOGC describe some interventions which may promote spontaneous vaginal birth and therefore reduce the need for OVD. They also highlight the importance of adequate postnatal care and counseling. There is no consensus on the actual technique that should be used, including the type of forceps or vacuum cup, the force and duration of traction or the number of detachments allowed. Hence, there is need for international practice protocols, so as to encourage the clinicians to use OVD when indicated, minimize the complications and reduce rates of cesarean delivery.

Association between endometriosis and gynecological cancers: a critical review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological diseases with an occurrence approximately 10% in reproductive age. Endometriosis has been proposed as a possible precursor of certain ovarian carcinomas such as clear cell and endometrioid ovarian carcinomas. In addition to this pathogenic link, the association with other gynecological tumors and breast cancer has been studied on an epidemiological basis in several studies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to critically present the recent published evidence on the association of endometriosis with gynecological cancer, and with a special emphasis on ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for eligible studies was conducted in three electronic databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL, for original research in humans published in any language. RESULTS: The present review includes studies examining the association between endometriosis and different types of gynecological cancer (i.e., 25 studies on ovarian cancer, 8 studies on breast cancer, 8 studies on endometrial cancer and 2 studies on cervical cancer). CONCLUSION: The present literature supports the pre-existing evidence suggesting an association between ovarian cancer and endometriosis and specifically its two histologic subtypes (endometrioid and ovarian clear cell cancer). The most recent population-based epidemiological studies cannot provide a clear association between endometriosis and endometrial, cervical or breast cancer.

Isolation of a novel embryonic stem cell cord blood-derived population with in vitro hematopoietic capacity in the presence of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies highlight the existence of a population of cord blood (CB)-derived stem cells that bare embryonic features (very small embryonic-like stem cells [VSELs]) as the most primitive CB-stem cell population. In the present study, we present for the first time a novel and high purity isolation method of VSELs with in vitro hematopoietic capacity in the presence of Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSCs). METHODS: The experimental procedure includes isolation upon gradually increased centrifugation spins and chemotaxis to Stromal cell-derived factor 1a (SDF-1a). Τhis cell population is characterized with flow cytometry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and qRT-PCR. The functional role of the isolated VSELs is assayed following co-culture with WJ-MSCs or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), whereas the stimulation of the quiescent VSEL population is verified via cell cycle analysis. The in vitro hematopoietic capacity is evaluated in methylcellulose cultures and also through induction of erythroid differentiation. RESULTS: The final isolated subpopulation is characterized as a small-sized CD45/Lineage-/CXCR4+/CD133+/SSEA-4+cell population, positive in ALP staining and overexpressing the Oct3/4, Nanog and Sox-2 transcription factors. Upon the co-culture with MSCs, a stimulation of the quiescent VSEL population is observed. An impressive increase in the co-expression of the CD34+/CD45+ markers is observed following the co-culture with the WJ-MSCs, which is confirmed by the intense clonogenic ability suggesting in vitro differentiation toward all of the hematopoietic cell lineages and successful differentiation toward erythrocytes. DISCUSSION: Conclusively, we propose a novel, rapid and rather simplified isolation method of CB-VSELs, capable of in vitro hematopoiesis.

Genetics of endometriosis: a comprehensive review.

This review aimed to critically evaluate the review, observational, cohort, and case-control studies performed so far in order to assess the association between endometriosis and genetics. The search strategies used included an online search of the MEDLINE database and a manual search of relevant publications and reviews. Additional reports were collected by systematically reviewing all references from the retrieved papers. Family studies have long suggested that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of endometriosis. Nevertheless, until now, studies on candidate genes have revealed inconsistent and contradictory evidence, leading to more questions rather than clear answers. It is possible that recent technological improvements in genetic evaluation could allow for a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of endometriosis in the near future.

Laparoscopic Diagnosis and Treatment of Obturator Nerve Entrapment Because of a Deep Infiltrating Endometriotic Nodule: A Case Report.

Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a particular form of endometriosis causing a variety of severe pelvic pain in women. The involvement of peripheral nerves by DIE implants is very rare. The most common involved site is the sacral plexus. There are few reported cases of involvement of the obturator nerve by DIE. To our knowledge, only 6 cases of symptomatic obturator nerve involvement by DIE have been described (according to PubMed database search in July 2018), and 3 of them were treated laparoscopically. We report a rare case of a deep infiltrating endometriotic nodule entrapping the right obturator nerve. Unlike the previously reported cases, patient history, clinical and laboratory data, and missed findings in previous imaging studies made our case difficult to diagnose. We successfully diagnosed the case and treated the patient with laparoscopic surgery. A video showing the surgery is also included. The recent follow-up in July 2018 (18 months after the operation was performed in January 2017) showed no signs or symptoms of recurrence or any other new complaints. The 18-month follow-up for this case is the longest follow-up data reported in the literature.

Comments on the ESHRE recommendations for the treatment of minimal endometriosis in infertile women.

According to ESHRE recommendations for women with stage I/II endometriosis, if a decision is made to proceed to laparoscopy then operative laparoscopy (excision or ablation of the endometriotic lesions) should be performed rather than only diagnostic laparoscopy, to increase ongoing pregnancy rates. Also, for infertile women with stage I/II endometriosis doctors may consider complete surgical removal of endometriosis to improve live birth rate prior to assisted reproductive treatment. This last recommendation is not well established. Does laparoscopic treatment of minimal endometriosis increase the fertility of women with minimal endometriosis? Should we perform surgery in all cases of minimal endometriosis to improve reproductive outcomes prior to assisted reproductive treatment? The aim of this article is to present evidence on these two questions and comment on the ESHRE recommendations. Evidence is quite robust that laparoscopic destruction of minimal to mild endometriosis and associated adhesions enhances fecundity. On the other hand, to date no clear benefit has been demonstrated of performing laparoscopy for minimal endometriosis in women undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection, therefore it is not recommended in these cases. Further studies are needed to assess the mechanisms of endometriosis-associated infertility and how it may be overcome in cases of minimal and mild endometriosis.

Safety and efficacy of intravenous iron administration for uterine bleeding or postpartum anaemia: a narrative review.

The management of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) consists of oral or intravenous administration of iron supplements. The aim of this narrative review is to summarise information regarding the treatment of IDA in women who have postpartum anaemia or uterine bleeding with intravenous (IV) or oral iron supplements. Fourteen randomised control studies comparing IV to oral iron treatment for IDA in 2913 women with uterine bleeding or postpartum haemorrhage are included. All reviewed studies suggest that IV iron administration is important in treating the IDA in such women and in improving their physical performance and quality of life. Comparisons among intravenous iron supplements show advantages of ferric carboxymaltose over others in time of reaching desired haemoglobin and ferritin values and in adverse reactions. Despite the limitation that the above evidence emerges from not systematically collected data, our review highlights that new forms of IV iron supplements seem safe and efficient in treating IDA.

Predictive value of anti-müllerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and antral follicle count on the outcome of ovarian stimulation in women following GnRH-antagonist protocol for IVF/ET.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of three methods: the levels of anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the antral follicle count (AFC), for the prediction of the number of retrieved mature oocytes and the number of generated embryos by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in women stimulated with a GnRH-antagonist protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 105 women were enrolled in the study. At the day 2 of a preceding cycle, AFC was performed and FSH and AMH were measured in serum by immunoenzymatic assays. All women were stimulated with a GnRH-antagonist protocol and ovulation was induced with human chorionic gonadotropin. ICSI was performed in all retrieved mature oocytes. Embryo transfers were performed at days 2-3. According to the oocytes retrieved, patients were categorized as poor (<4), normal (4-12) or high responders (>12). RESULTS: AFC and the levels of baseline FSH and AMH were significantly different among poor, normal and high responders. The number of oocytes as well as the number of embryos was negatively correlated with baseline FSH and positively correlated with baseline AMH and AFC, whereas AFC showed the strongest correlation. Stepwise regression analysis indicated AFC and baseline AMH as the most significant parameters for the prediction of the number of oocytes; for the prediction of the number of embryos, the most significant parameter was AFC. CONCLUSIONS: AFC, baseline AMH and baseline FSH are good predictors for the outcome of ovarian stimulation in GnRH-antagonist cycles. However, AFC appears to have the best predictive value.

Laparoscopic Cystectomy for a 20-Centimetre Ovarian Endometrioma in a Subfertile Patient: Α Case Report.

Large ovarian endometriomas may cause severe pressure symptoms and often require surgical management. The laparoscopic approach, although challenging, is feasible and safe when performed by surgeons with advanced minimal access skills, provided that certain rules are respected. We report a case of a 40-year-old, nulliparous patient with a history of endometriosis, low ovarian reserve, and subfertility who presented with a 20-cm left ovarian endometrioma and associated symptoms, managed successfully by laparoscopic cystectomy. Compared to non-excisional surgical methods, endometrioma cystectomy likely causes a more profound decline in post-operative ovarian reserve, which is particularly important in the context of subfertility. We discuss the technical aspects of this challenging procedure, potential alternative approaches, and clinical decision-making as to why cystectomy was preferred.

The Impact of Laparoscopic Surgery on Fertility Outcomes in Patients with Minimal/Mild Endometriosis.

Minimal/mild endometriosis (MME) is independently associated with reduced fecundity rates. In this review article, we discuss the role of laparoscopic surgery in enhancing the fertility outcomes of patients with MME. Laparoscopic management of MME enhances fecundity and increases the chances of spontaneous conception in appropriately selected cases. However, laparoscopy cannot be routinely recommended in asymptomatic patients with the sole purpose of diagnosing and treating potentially present MME. Equally, and based on existing information, the laparoscopic management of MME cannot be routinely recommended prior to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) attempts due to the lack of robust and beneficial evidence. Because an overlap between unexplained infertility and MME cases likely exists, the development of reliable, widely available, non-invasive tests for the diagnosis of MME may revolutionise the management of cases currently classified as unexplained infertility. In a disease as diverse as endometriosis, management decisions should be based on a multitude of factors. Future studies should focus on reporting the outcomes of interventions for MME on fertility and obstetric outcomes, clearly differentiating between disease stages and phenotypes.