Pregnancy outcome in women with endometriosis achieving pregnancy with IVF

STUDY QUESTION Are women with endometriosis who conceive with IVF at increased risk of preterm birth? SUMMARY ANSWER Women with endometriosis who conceive with IVF do not face an increased risk of preterm birth. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis has been repeatedly shown to present molecular and cellular alterations. On this basis, it has been hypothesized that pregnancy outcome may be altered in affected women. However, to date, available evidence from epidemiological studies is scanty and conflicting. Data tended to be partly consistent only for an increased risk of preterm birth and placenta previa. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Retrospective matched case–control study of women achieving an IVF singleton pregnancy progressing beyond 12 weeks’ gestation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Women achieving IVF singleton pregnancies that progressed beyond 12 weeks' gestation at two infertility units were reviewed. Cases were women with a history of surgery for endometriosis and/or with a sonographic diagnosis of the disease at the time of the IVF cycle. Controls were women without current or past evidence of endometriosis who were matched to cases by age (± 6 months), type of cycle (fresh or frozen cycle) and study period. Male factor and unexplained infertility were the most common diagnoses in the control group. Two hundred and thirty-nine women with endometriosis and 239 controls were selected. The main outcome of the study was the rate of preterm birth (birth