EFFORT study:Comparing impact of operation and assisted reproductive technologies on fertility for women with deep infiltrating endometriosis - study protocol for a multicentre randomised trial

INTRODUCTION: Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) affecting the rectum or sigmoid colon is associated with infertility, severe pain and decreased quality of life. As most women with DIE are young, many have a pregnancy intention. Treatment possibilities of endometriosis-associated infertility are surgery or assisted reproductive technologies (ART). However, no studies have compared the two interventions directly. Therefore, this study aims to determine the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) and the live birth rate (LBR) after first-line surgery compared with first-line ART for women with rectosigmoid DIE and a pregnancy intention. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Multicentre, parallel-group, randomised trial of women with rectosigmoid DIE and a pregnancy intention for at least 6 months in Aarhus, Denmark and Bordeaux, France. 352 women aged 18–38 years are randomised 1:1 to either surgical management (shaving, disc excision or segmental resection) or ART management (at least two in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures if not pregnant after the first cycle). Women in the surgical intervention group will attempt to get pregnant by either spontaneous conception or ART, depending on the endometriosis fertility index score. Primary outcome measures are CPR and LBR at 18 months’ follow-up. Secondary outcomes are: Non-viable pregnancies, time to pregnancy, pain score, quality of life, complication rate, bowel and bladder function, endocrine and inflammatory profile, number of oocytes, blastocysts, frozen embryos and blastocyst morphology score within 18 months after either intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Conduct of this study is approved by the Danish National Committee on Health Research Ethics and Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile de France VIII. Study participants must sign an informed consent form. The results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in international peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT04610710). PROTOCOL VERSION: The Danish National Committee on Health Research Ethics: Fifth protocol version approved 7 September 2020 (no. 1-10-72-96-20). Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile de France VIII: Version 1.1 22JAN2021 the 9 March 2021

Transvaginal Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Endometriosis-An Overview: How, Why, and When

: Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease, causing symptoms such as pelvic pain and infertility. Accurate diagnosis and assessment are often challenging. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are the most common imaging modalities. In this narrative review, we present the evidence behind the role of TVS in the diagnosis and assessment of endometriosis. We recognize three forms of endometriosis: Ovarian endometriomas (OMAs) can be adequately assessed by transvaginal ultrasound. Superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SUP) is challenging to diagnose by either imaging modality. TVS, in the hands of appropriately trained clinicians, appears to be non-inferior to MRI in the diagnosis and assessment of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The IDEA consensus standardized the terminology and offered a structured approach in the assessment of endometriosis by ultrasound. TVS can be used in the non-invasive staging of endometriosis using the available classification systems (rASRM, #ENZIAN). Given its satisfactory overall diagnostic accuracy, wide availability, and low cost, it should be considered as the first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis and assessment of endometriosis. Modifications to the original ultrasound technique can be employed on a case-by-case basis. Improved training and future advances in ultrasound technology are likely to further increase its diagnostic performance

Surgical Management of Ovarian Endometrioma: Impact on Ovarian Reserve Parameters and Reproductive Outcomes

Ovarian endometriomas have a negative impact on a patient’s reproductive potential and are likely to cause a reduction in ovarian reserve. The most commonly employed ovarian reserve parameters are anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicular count (AFC). Surgical management options of endometrioma include cystectomy, ablative methods, ethanol sclerotherapy and combined techniques. The optimal surgical approach remains a matter of debate. Our review aimed to summarize the literature on the impact of surgical management of endometrioma on AMH, AFC and fertility outcomes. Cystectomy may reduce recurrence rates and increase chances of spontaneous conception. However, a postoperative reduction in AMH is to be anticipated, despite there being evidence of recovery during follow-up. The reduction in ovarian reserve is likely multi-factorial. Cystectomy does not appear to significantly reduce, and may even increase, AFC. Ablative methods achieve an ovarian-tissue-sparing effect, and improved ovarian reserve, compared to cystectomy, has been demonstrated. A single study reported on AMH and AFC post sclerotherapy, and both were significantly reduced. AMH levels may be useful in predicting the chances of conception postoperatively. None of the aforementioned approaches has a clearly demonstrated superiority in terms of overall chances of conception. Surgical management of endometrioma may, overall, improve the probability of pregnancy. Evidence on its value before medically assisted reproduction (MAR) is conflicting; however, a combination of surgery followed by MAR may achieve the optimal fertility outcome. In view of the complexity of available evidence, individualization of care, combined with optimal surgical technique, is highly recommended

Outcomes of Surgical Management of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis of the Ureter and Urinary Bladder

Conservative surgery can be proposed for cases of urinary tract endometriosis associated with postoperative amenorrhea; however, there is a risk of concomitant colorectal surgery and postoperative complications

Complications Associated With Two Laparoscopic Procedures Used in the Management of Rectal Endometriosis

This study suggests that bladder and rectal dysfunction occur more frequently with colorectal resection in rectal endometriosis compared with excision of the nodules alone

Endometriosis and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Clinical Advice and Future Considerations

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic shift in the clinical practice of women’s health and routine care for endometriosis has been severely disrupted. Endometriosis is defined as an inflammatory disease characterized by lesions of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus that is associated with pelvic pain and/or infertility (1). It affects ∼10% of reproductive age women worldwide, is diagnosed by surgical visualization or by radiological imaging, and is managed with hormone treatments or by laparoscopic removal of lesions (2–4). At the time of writing, under the guidance of international gynecological organizations (5–7), many centers temporarily ceased offering outpatient appointments, diagnostic imaging for nonacute pelvic pain, surgery for endometriosis, and fertility treatments. In the absence of routine care pathways and uncertainty about when health services will be available again, endometriosis sufferers are likely to feel vulnerable and that resultant stress and anxiety may contribute to a worsening of symptoms. The pandemic poses several important questions for healthcare providers on how best to deliver care within these restrictions. Herein, we present clinical advice on the management of endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic and future considerations

Colorectal endometriosis and pregnancy wish: why doing primary surgery.

International audienceOne of the most interesting debates surrounding deep endometriosis concerns the management of patients with colorectal lesions and pregnancy intention, for which no strong first level of evidence data exists to recommend performing surgical excision of colorectal endometriosis or ART. Studies assessing the policy of primary IVF have recorded pregnancy rates inferior to 45% and estimated cumulative pregnancy rates after up to 3 cycles or IVF as high as 68%. Other authors have reported pregnancy rates over 60% in patients undergoing primary surgery for colorectal endometriosis, with spontaneous conception representing up to 60% of pregnancies. Although overall pregnancy rates appear roughly comparable in patients undergoing either IVF followed by surgery or surgery followed if required by IVF, questions remain as to whether delaying surgery for months or years impairs health. Delaying surgery may lead to bowel occlusion, higher rates of radical colorectal procedures, increased postoperative morbidity and prolonged painful complaints. To provide definitive answers requires a randomized trial on an international scale with a sample size exceeding 400 patients and follow up averaging 4 years

Colorectal endometriosis and pregnancy wish: why doing primary surgery.

International audienceOne of the most interesting debates surrounding deep endometriosis concerns the management of patients with colorectal lesions and pregnancy intention, for which no strong first level of evidence data exists to recommend performing surgical excision of colorectal endometriosis or ART. Studies assessing the policy of primary IVF have recorded pregnancy rates inferior to 45% and estimated cumulative pregnancy rates after up to 3 cycles or IVF as high as 68%. Other authors have reported pregnancy rates over 60% in patients undergoing primary surgery for colorectal endometriosis, with spontaneous conception representing up to 60% of pregnancies. Although overall pregnancy rates appear roughly comparable in patients undergoing either IVF followed by surgery or surgery followed if required by IVF, questions remain as to whether delaying surgery for months or years impairs health. Delaying surgery may lead to bowel occlusion, higher rates of radical colorectal procedures, increased postoperative morbidity and prolonged painful complaints. To provide definitive answers requires a randomized trial on an international scale with a sample size exceeding 400 patients and follow up averaging 4 years

Clinical Outcome After Radical Excision of Moderate-severe Endometriosis With or Without Bowel Resection and Reanastomosis

International audienc