A web-based survey of reproductive awareness and choices in women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to study fertility issues, attitudes towards reproductive techniques and fertility preservation options in women of reproductive age with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: In 2018 we conducted a web-based survey on fertility issues in women aged 18-40 years with endometriosis. Participants were recruited via advertisements on social media and local endometriosis support groups. Participants completed a self-developed online questionnaire evaluating the following dimensions: sociodemographic, medical data, parental project, knowledge and attitudes toward endometriosis and fertility, means used to access information, and reproductive choices. RESULTS: The majority of women (96 %) worried about the impact of endometriosis on their fertility. Approximately half of them (52 %) reported having received sufficient information concerning the effect of endometriosis on fertility from their doctor, whereas 31 % had discussed fertility issues with their doctor but desired further information. In contrast, only a minority (27 %) of women considered themselves well-informed on fertility preservation options. Information given by specialists on endometriosis and reproduction was considered most useful. Information mediated through patient support groups was also highly rated, whereas information given by the general gynecologist was less highly rated. The majority of women would consider assisted reproductive techniques (74 %) or adoption (70 %) in case of infertility. Interestingly, 72 % of women would undergo oocyte vitrification for fertility preservation, whereas only 37 % would resort to oocyte donation. CONCLUSION: This is the first survey to address the topic of fertility issues from the patient's perspective in women with endometriosis. The vast majority of women attach great importance to a discussion about fertility possibilities and only a minority of women consider themselves well-informed. Our results highlight the importance of addressing the issue of fertility in women with endometriosis. Special attention should be given to information and counselling about fertility preservation options since most women consider their knowledge on the topic insufficient. Knowledge and attitudes to counsel endometriosis patients on fertility issues and fertility preservation options should be included in the training curricula of gynecologists. Adequate information on reproductive aging, risk factors for infertility, and reproductive choices, including oocyte vitrification, should be incorporated into follow-up visits for endometriosis patients.

Sonographic examination of uterine niche in non-pregnant women: a modified Delphi procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To generate guidance for detailed uterine niche evaluation by ultrasonography in the non-pregnant woman, using a modified Delphi procedure amongst European experts. METHODS: Twenty gynecological experts were approached through their membership of the European Niche Taskforce. All experts were physicians with extensive experience in niche evaluation in clinical practice and/or authors of niche publications. By means of a modified Delphi procedure, relevant items for niche measurement were determined based on the results of a literature search and recommendations of a focus group of six Dutch experts. It was predetermined that at least three Delphi rounds would be performed (two online questionnaires completed by the expert panel and one group meeting). For it to be declared that consensus had been reached, a consensus rate for each item of at least 70% was predefined. RESULTS: Fifteen experts participated in the Delphi procedure. Consensus was reached for all 42 items on niche evaluation, including definitions, relevance, method of measurement and tips for visualization of the niche. A niche was defined as an indentation at the site of a Cesarean section with a depth of at least 2 mm. Basic measurements, including niche length and depth, residual and adjacent myometrial thickness in the sagittal plane, and niche width in the transverse plane, were considered to be essential. If present, branches should be reported and additional measurements should be made. The use of gel or saline contrast sonography was preferred over standard transvaginal sonography but was not considered mandatory if intrauterine fluid was present. Variation in pressure generated by the transvaginal probe can facilitate imaging, and Doppler imaging can be used to differentiate between a niche and other uterine abnormalities, but neither was considered mandatory. CONCLUSION: Consensus between niche experts was achieved regarding ultrasonographic niche evaluation. © 2018 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Endometriosis after menopause: physiopathology and management of an uncommon condition.

Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent inflammatory disease that is usually characterized by infertility and pain symptoms. This disease mainly occurs during the reproductive years and is rarely diagnosed after menopause. We discuss the physiopathology of this condition after menopause as well as treatment options and the risk of malignant transformation. Occurrence or progression of postmenopausal endometriosis lesions could be related to extra-ovarian production of estrogen by endometriosis lesions and adipose tissue, which becomes the major estrogen-producing tissue after menopause. Postmenopausal women with symptomatic endometriosis should be managed surgically because of the risk of malignancy; medical treatments can be used in cases of pain recurrence after surgery. Aromatase inhibitors act by decreasing extra-ovarian estrogen production and by blocking the feed-forward stimulation loop between inflammation and aromatase within endometriosis lesions. The evidence is currently insufficient to support a conclusion about the optimal hormone replacement therapy for women with endometriosis. The question of malignant transformation of endometriosis in response to hormone replacement therapy in women with a history of endometriosis remains unanswered and needs a long-term follow-up study to evaluate the risk of an adverse outcome. Further studies should be performed to determine the optimal management of menopausal women with endometriosis.

[Contraception during the perimenopause: indications, security, and non contraceptive benefits]. / Contraception en période de périménopause: indication, sécurité et avantages non contraceptifs.

Although patients' fertility is diminished in the period of perimenopause, they still need efficient contraception. Thorough knowledge of the physiological changes occuring during this period of transition is essential in order to provide optimal care. Until the age of 50, no contraceptive method is specifically considered unsuitable due to age alone. The choice of contraceptive needs to be adapted to the patient, assessing the individual risk factors and favouring the potential non-contraceptive advantages of the method selected. Long-term contraceptive methods (e.g., the copper intrauterine device (IUD), the Mirena IUD or a subcutaneous implant) offer an excellent solution on both levels.

The role of preventive uterine artery occlusion during laparoscopic myomectomy: a review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Surgical myomectomy is currently regarded as the standard conservative treatment for patients who wish to preserve their fertility. However, it presents two main problems: the intra- and postoperative risk of bleeding and the risk of recurrence of leiomyomas. Preventive occlusion of uterine arteries was described during laparoscopic myomectomy as one of the procedures addressing these issues. METHODS: We conducted a literature review to define the role of preventive uterine artery occlusion during laparoscopic myomectomy. RESULTS: Nine non-randomized case-control studies and two randomized controlled trials were identified. The permanent and bilateral uterine artery occlusion technique is the most studied in the literature. The main purpose of facilitating the operative procedure by reducing blood loss has not been clearly demonstrated in randomized trials. Observational comparative studies found an improvement in the effectiveness of treatment, both on clinical symptoms and on the recurrence of leiomyomas. Finally, there are few data examining the effect of uterine artery occlusion on later fertility in female patients of childbearing age, which limits its current use. CONCLUSION: The preventive occlusion of uterine arteries is a safe surgical technique that can be performed during laparoscopic myomectomy. Further randomized studies are needed to better define the role of uterine artery occlusion in the surgical strategy, especially for women who want to preserve their fertility.

[Fertility preservation techniques in women of reproductive age ]. / Techniques de préservation de la fertilité chez la femme en âge de procréer.

As a result of advances in oncologic treatment, a growing number of women diagnosed with cancer may envisage cure. Young women diagnosed with cancer often have a desire to fall pregnant in the future or may even be diagnosed with cancer in the process of family planning. The potential gonadotoxic effect of certain chemotherapeutic agents is well described. Therefore, it is essential that all women concerned about their fertility receive counselling from a reproductive medicine specialist to discuss the fertility preservation options. Currently, ovarian stimulation with cryopreservation of oocytes or fertilized oocytes is the treatment of choice. However, other options such as in vitro maturation or ovarian tissue cryopreservation should be discussed if ovarian stimulation is contraindicated.

[Results of in vitro fertilization in natural cycle or with mild stimulation]. / Résultats de la fécondation in vitro en cycle naturel ou avec une stimulation hormonale minimale.

Natural cycle, modified natural cycle and mild stimulation are different protocols which provide some advantages compared to conventional stimulation: lower medication cost, less injections, less invasive, low risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancy. There main drawback is high cancellation rate due to premature ovulation and lack of egg recovery at the retrieval. When an embryo transfer can be performed, the cumulative pregnancy rate is similar to the results in con- ventional stimulation. Those protocols don't provide any advantage in term of results for woman with normal ovarian reserve, however it might be considered as a therapeutic alternative in poor responders.

[Recurrence of pain after surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis: How does it happen? How to manage?]. / Récidive de la douleur après chirurgie pour endométriose profonde : pourquoi ? Que faire ?

Recurrence of deep endometriosis remains a major issue in the management of endometriosis. The main cause for recurrence appears to be an incomplete excisional surgery. Therefore, the goal of the primary surgery should be the complete resection of all endometriotic lesions. If surgical skills cannot meet this objective it seems preferable to refer the patient to a center with a recognized expertise in this field rather than performing an incomplete surgery. It seems also possible to tailor the indications according to the symptoms, especially when endometriosis affects the bladder in association with an asymptomatic vaginal and/or rectal involvement. This strategy does not increase the rate of recurrence. Postoperative medical treatment based on ovarian function suppression is attractive as it diminishes the recurrence rate. Facing the recurrence, appropriate assessment of the benefit risk balance must be performed. Medical treatment is an option. When surgery is chosen, it seems interesting to discuss carefully the indication of hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, especially for women over 40 years old with no desire for pregnancy and/or symptomatic adenomyosis. Risks of induced ovarian castration must be taken into account.

[What's new in gynecology and obstetrics in 2012?]. / Gynécologie-obstétrique.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) has been shown to be as effective as traditional radiotherapy in the management of early stage breast cancer. IORT is performed in a single session and consists in a single irradiation in the tumorectomy cavity. Medically assisted procreation does not seem to favor neither gynecological nor non-gynecological cancers. Nevertheless medically assisted procreation technique ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is associated with an increased risk of birth defect. This is not the case of IVF (in vitro fertilization). The causality of the treatment or of the infertility itself is unclear. During pregnancy, nicotine-replacement patches at usual dosage do not seem to increase abstinence smoking rates. A selective, and not a systematic thyroid screening strategy, is now recommended during first trimester of pregnancy.