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Ata B, Somigliana E. Endometriosis, staging, infertility and assisted reproductive technology: time for a rethink. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 49:103943. [PMID: 38733678 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2024.103943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
How endometriosis causes infertility, with the exception of tubal dysfunction caused by adhesions, is unclear. The inflammatory milieu in the pelvis and impaired receptivity of the eutopic endometrium are considered to be possible factors. Anatomical staging systems fail to predict the fertility status of endometriosis patients. Data from assisted reproductive technology cycles consistently suggest that oocytes from patients with endometriosis have a normal potential to develop into euploid blastocysts. Moreover, oocyte or embryo recipients with endometriosis seem to have similar or slightly lower pregnancy and live birth rates compared with recipients without endometriosis, suggesting that eutopic endometrium is not or is only minimally affected, which may be caused by undiagnosed adenomyosis. In-vivo observations from women with endometriomas provide evidence against a detrimental effect of endometriomas on oocytes. Combined with the absence of an obvious improvement in fertility following the surgical destruction or excision of peritoneal endometriosis or from temporary medical suppression of the disease and the associated inflammation, the available evidence makes endometriosis-associated infertility questionable in the absence of tubal dysfunction caused by adhesions. It is likely that no anatomical staging will correlate with fertility beyond assessing tubal function. In patients with endometriosis assisted reproductive technology is as effective as for other indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baris Ata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.; ART Fertility Clinics, Dubai, United Arab Emirates..
| | - Edgardo Somigliana
- ART Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Somigliana E, Chinè A, Reschini M, Fornelli G, Basili L, Busnelli A, Viganò P, Muzii L. Reply: A paradox? Which paradox? Hum Reprod Open 2024; 2024:hoae007. [PMID: 38384672 PMCID: PMC10879745 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Somigliana
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore
Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli
Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Chinè
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urology, “Sapienza” University of
Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Reschini
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore
Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Fornelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli
Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ludovica Basili
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli
Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Busnelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University,
Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- Division of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology,
IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Fertility Center, Rozzano, Milan,
Italy
| | - Paola Viganò
- Infertility Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore
Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ludovico Muzii
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urology, “Sapienza” University of
Rome, Rome, Italy
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Sokteang S, Tran C, Ou P, Ouk C, Pirtea P, de Ziegler D. Clinical Management of Infertility Associated with Endometriosis. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2024:102409. [PMID: 38340984 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2024.102409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to review recent data that affected the clinical management of infertility associated with endometriosis. DATA SOURCES We completed a PubMed review of all articles that included the following keywords: endometriosis, infertility, IVF, and ART. STUDY SELECTION A study was selected based on the pertinence of the topic addressed in relation to the study's set objectives. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS All identified articles were first assessed based on a review of the abstract. Pertinent articles were reviewed in depth. CONCLUSION Endometriosis interferes with natural conception primarily by altering the quality of gametes-oocytes and sperm-and early-stage embryos. On the contrary, recent data indicate that gametes and early-stage embryos are not altered in the case of ART. Surgery-a classical approach in yesteryears-does appear to improve ART outcomes and may affect ovarian reserve and the number of oocytes retrieved in ART. Surgery is thus more rarely opted for today and only when necessary; proceeding to fertility preservation prior to surgery is recommended. When ART is performed in women with endometriosis, it is recommended to use an antagonist or progesterone-primed ovarian stimulation approach followed by deferred embryo transfer. In this case, GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) agonist is preferred for triggering ovulation, as it limits the risk of cyst formation as well as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Frozen embryo transfers are best performed in E2 (estradiol) and progesterone replacement cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Sokteang
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
| | - Chloe Tran
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
| | - Pichetra Ou
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
| | - Chanpisey Ouk
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
| | - Paul Pirtea
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia; Department of Ob-Gyn, Hopital Foch, Paris, France
| | - Dominique de Ziegler
- Fertility Clinic of Cambodia (FCC), Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia; Department of Ob-Gyn, Hopital Foch, Paris, France.
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Casalechi M, Di Stefano G, Fornelli G, Somigliana E, Viganò P. Impact of endometriosis on the ovarian follicles. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2024; 92:102430. [PMID: 38311379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
A significant body of evidence has supported a negative impact of endometriosis on ovarian follicles; however, the origin and relevance of this ovarian impairment in endometriosis is still a matter of debate. The ovarian damage can be caused by endometriosis itself or by surgeries aiming to remove endometriotic lesions. In this review, we summarized the existing knowledge on the mechanisms by which endometriosis can impact the ovarian follicles, from molecular to clinical points of view. From a molecular standpoint, the presence of endometriosis or its consequences can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, aberrant mitochondrial energy metabolism and inappropriate steroid production in granulosa cells, phenomena that may impair the quality of oocytes to variable degrees. These alterations may have clinical relevance on the accelerated exhaustion of the ovarian reserve, on the ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation in IVF cycles and on the competence of the oocytes. Critical points to be considered in current clinical practices related to fertility issues in endometriosis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maíra Casalechi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Infertility Unit, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Di Stefano
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Infertility Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Fornelli
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Infertility Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Edgardo Somigliana
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Infertility Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Viganò
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Infertility Unit, Milan, Italy
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Leone Roberti Maggiore U, Chiappa V, Ceccaroni M, Roviglione G, Savelli L, Ferrero S, Raspagliesi F, Spanò Bascio L. Epidemiology of infertility in women with endometriosis. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2024; 92:102454. [PMID: 38183767 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a benign, chronic, inflammatory condition affecting up to 10 % of women and characterised by the presence of glands and stroma tissue outside the uterus. Epidemiological and clinical studies demonstrate a consistent association between endometriosis and infertility. However, this relationship is far to be clearly understood and several mechanisms are involved. Available data show that patients with endometriosis have an increased estimated risk of infertility between two and four times compared with the general population. On the other hand, the probability of patients with infertility to have endometriosis is reported up to about 50 % of the cases. Future studies should aim to better elucidate the mechanisms behind endometriosis-associated infertility in order to offer the more appropriate and tailored management for the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Chiappa
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcello Ceccaroni
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery, International School of Surgical Anatomy, IRCCS "Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria" Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Roviglione
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology and Minimally Invasive Pelvic Surgery, International School of Surgical Anatomy, IRCCS "Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria" Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Savelli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Simone Ferrero
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Raspagliesi
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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