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Endometriosis and infertility: a committee opinion (2012)


Endometriosis is a common, chronic disease. Although women may be asymptomatic, most women typically present with pelvic pain, infertility, or an adnexal mass. Treatment of endometriosis in the setting of infertility raises a number of complex clinical questions. The purpose of this document is to review the current literature regarding the implications of endometriosis and its management on reproduction.

Classical studies suggested that 25% to 50% of infertile women have endometriosis and that 30% to 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile (1). The true prevalence of endometriosis is difficult to quantify as very wide ranges have been reported in the literature. One study suggested the prevalence of endometriosis in women who undergo tubal sterilization is 1% to 7%, while the prevalence of endometriosis in women undergoing a laparoscopy for evaluation of infertility is 9% to 50% (1, 2). Among women with pelvic pain the prevalence of endometriosis ranges from 30% to 80% (1). Other studies have not reported prevalence but have confirmed that infertile women are 6 to 8 times more likely to have endometriosis than fertile women (2). Apparent risk factors for endometriosis also include a low body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, and smoking (1). African-American women are less likely than Caucasian women to have endometriosis (odds ratio [OR] 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4–0.9) (1).


ENDOMETRIOSIS AND INFERTILITY

The hypothesis that endometriosis causes infertility or a decrease in fecundity remains controversial. Whereas a reasonable body of evidence demonstrates an association between endometriosis and infertility, a causal relationship has not been clearly established. However, endometriosis can result in adhesions or distorted pelvic anatomy that precludes fertility. The fecundity rate in normal couples is in the range of 15% to 20% per month and decreases with age of the female partner (3, 4). The fecundity rate of untreated women with endometriosis is difficult to quantify, given the wide range reported in the literature (2% to 10%) (5). If endometriosis does cause infertility, then eradication of the disease should improve fecundity. Unfortunately, suppressive medical therapy for endometriosis has not been shown to improve fecundity rates and may only result in a delay in the use of more effective treatments to achieve pregnancy. Surgery for stage III or IV endometriosis can be useful to treat pelvic adhesions that may impact reproductive function.


BIOLOGIC MECHANISMS THAT MAY LINK ENDOMETRIOSIS AND INFERTILITY

No mechanism has been identified to explain the link between endometriosis and subfertility; however, several mechanisms have been proposed (6–8). It should be emphasized that none of these mechanisms has been proven to decrease fecundity in women with endometriosis. These mechanisms are briefly discussed below.


Distorted Pelvic Anatomy

Major pelvic adhesions, including those that result from endometriosis, can impair oocyte release from the ovary or inhibit ovum capture or transport (9).


Altered Peritoneal Function

Many studies demonstrate that women with endometriosis have an increased volume of peritoneal fluid, as well as increased peritoneal fluid concentrations of prostaglandins, proteases, and cytokines including inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and TNFa, and angiogenic cytokines, such as IL-8 and VEGF produced by macrophages (10, 11). Several studies have also demonstrated elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in the serum of women with endometriosis, implying that endometriosis may lead to systemic inflammation. It is unknown if inflammation predisposes to, or results from, endometriosis. An ovum capture inhibitor that prevents normal cumulusfimbria interaction has been reported in the peritoneal fluid of hamsters with induced endometriosis (12). These alterations may have adverse effects on oocyte, sperm, embryo, or fallopian tube function (13).


Altered Hormonal and Cell-Mediated Function

IgG and IgA antibodies and lymphocytes may be increased in the endometrium of women with endometriosis. These abnormalities may alter endometrial receptivity and embryo implantation. Autoantibodies to endometrial antigens are reported to be increased in some women with endometriosis (13).


Endocrine and Ovulatory Abnormalities

It has been proposed that women with endometriosis may have endocrine and ovulatory disorders, including luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome, luteal phase dysfunction, abnormal follicular growth, and premature as well as multiple luteinizing hormone (LH) surges (9). There is some evidence to suggest that endometriosis may be associated with a longer follicular phase with possibly lower serum estradiol levels and lower LH-dependent progesterone secretion during the luteal phase of the cycle (14, 15). However, endocrine disturbances have not been linked to the outcome of pregnancy.


Impaired Implantation

Some evidence suggests that disorders of endometrial function may contribute to the decreased fecundity observed in women with endometriosis. Reduced endometrial expression of avb3 integrin (a cell adhesion molecule) during the time of implantation has been described in some women with endometriosis (16), but this finding has not been replicated. More recently, very low levels of an enzyme involved in the synthesis of the endometrial ligand for L-selectin (a protein that coats the trophoblast on the surface of the blastocyst) have been observed in infertile women with endometriosis (17–21).


Oocyte and Embryo Quality

Infertility in women with endometriosis may be related to alterations within the follicle, poor oocyte quality and subsequent embryogenesis, or decreased endometrial receptivity. This theory is supported by findings of altered progesterone and cytokine concentrations in follicular fluid from women with endometriosis (22). Abnormalities of oocyte and embryo quality have been described in women with endometriosis. Embryos derived from women with endometriosis appear to develop more slowly compared to those embryos derived from women with tubal disease (23). Also, in oocyte donation cycles, women with moderate to severe endometriosis who receive oocytes from disease-free women appear to have normal endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rates. Conversely, when donor oocytes from women with endometriosis are transferred into women without endometriosis, implantation rates are lower and embryo quality is reduced (24). Further studies are needed to determine whether pregnancy rates are lower in recipients who receive oocytes from donors with or without endometriosis (24).


Abnormal Uterotubal Transport

It has been suggested that women with endometriosis demonstrate a reduction in physiologic uterotubal transport capacity compared to control subjects. In women with patent fallopian tubes and endometriosis, further investigation using hysterosalpingoscintigraphy (HSSG) suggested abnormal transport (contralateral to the dominant follicle or a complete failure of transport) in 64% of patients compared to 32% of patients in a control group with the diagnosis of male infertility (25). These findings must be confirmed by others.


DIAGNOSIS AND STAGING

In current clinical practice, a surgical procedure such as laparoscopy is required for a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis. Histologic evaluation is warranted whenever the diagnosis is not apparent on visual inspection at surgery. When addressing whether or not to perform a laparoscopy on a woman presenting with a complaint of infertility, one should consider both the likelihood of the diagnosis of endometriosis as well as potential benefit of treatment. A history and physical examination can yield a number of significant findings suggestive of endometriosis including: cyclic or chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, a fixed retroverted uterus, an adnexal mass, and uterosacral ligament nodularity, thickening, or tenderness. Additionally, ultrasound can help the clinician establish a presumptive diagnosis of an ovarian endometrioma but cannot reliably image peritoneal implants of disease.

A laparoscopic diagnosis of asymptomatic endometriosis in a woman without signs or symptoms of the disease can sometimes be made. However, laparoscopic confirmation of asymptomatic endometriosis is almost always limited to uncovering minimal or mild disease. The therapeutic benefit of laparoscopy to increase fecundity in a woman with mild disease is minimal. The combination of these factors renders laparoscopy of asymptomatic women with infertility, simply to rule out or confirm disease, unwarranted (26, 27).

Endometriosis is a heterogeneous disease with typical and atypical peritoneal lesions ranging from a single 1 mm peritoneal implant to R10 cm endometriomas and cul-de-sac obliteration (28). Consequently, a staging system has been proposed to allow clinicians to communicate the extent of disease and to permit standardization and comparisons of outcomes for clinical trials. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification system for endometriosis (ASRM 1996) is the most widely accepted staging system (28). Unfortunately, no staging system correlates well with the chance of conception following therapy. This poor predictive ability is related to the arbitrary assignment of point scores for the observed pathology and the arbitrary cut-off points chosen to establish the stage of disease. The ASRM 1996 classification system might be enhanced by including a description of the morphologic subtype of disease or other biological markers (29). A more accurate staging system is unlikely until there is a better understanding of the pathophysiology of endometriosis-associated infertility. However, new staging systems have been proposed (30).

Table 1. Cycle fecundity in women with stage I or II endometriosis, according to treatment (reported as percentage).


  Group
Treatment Unexplained infertility Endometriosis-associated infertility
Reference Guzick et al. (55) Deaton et al. (41) Chaffkin et al. (57) Fedele et al. (42) Kemmann et al. (43)
No treatment or intracervical
insemination
2 3.3   4.5 2.8
IUI 5(a)        
Clomiphene         6.6
Clomiphene/IUI   9.5(a)      
Gonadotropins 4(a)   6.6   7.3(a)
Gonadotropins/IUI 9(a)   12.9(a) 15(a)  
IVF         22.2(a)
Note: Data presented as percent.
a P<.05 for treatment vs. no treatment.

MEDICAL THERAPY FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS

Whereas medical therapy is effective for relieving pain associated with endometriosis, there is no evidence that medical treatment of endometriosis improves fertility. In actuality, fertility is essentially eliminated during treatment because all medical treatments for endometriosis inhibit ovulation. Several options have been suggested for medical treatment: progestins and combined estrogen-progestin therapy, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, danazol, and, most recently, aromatase inhibitors. Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that progestins or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are not effective treatments for infertility associated with minimal to mild endometriosis (31–33). In two RCTs involving 105 infertile women with minimal to mild endometriosis, pregnancy rates were no better with danazol than with expectant management (31, 34). In an RCT involving 71 infertile women with minimal to mild endometriosis, the one-and two-year cumulative pregnancy rates were similar in the groups receiving GnRH-agonist treatment (6 months) or expectant management (32). In a small RCT involving 37 infertile women with minimal to mild endometriosis treated with progestins or expectant management, pregnancy rates were similar at one year in both groups (35). Also, in a small RCT involving 31 women, pregnancy rates with progestins or expectant management were 41% and 43%, respectively (36). In one randomized trial, medical therapy with gestrinone was not superior to placebo even in women in whom the endometriosis disappeared. The 12-month conception rate was 25% (5/20) with gestrinone and 24% (4/17) with placebo. The conception rate was 25% (4/16) in all women with no visible endometriosis at the second laparoscopy and 30% (6/20) when residual disease was present. These rates compare with 23% (6/26) among patients with unexplained infertility. None of these rates differ significantly from each other (35). In a meta-analysis that included seven studies comparing medical treatment to no treatment or placebo, the common OR for pregnancy was 0.85 (95% CI 0.95, 1.22) (5). A review of 13 RCTs that included nearly 800 infertile women with endometriosis reported no evidence that ovulation suppression was superior to placebo in women who wished to conceive (33). Thus, hormonal treatment does not improve the fecundity of infertile women with Stage I/II endometriosis.

At present, there are insufficient data to evaluate the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), progesterone antagonists, or selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) in the medical management of endometriosis for fertility.


SURGERY FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS

In stage I/II endometriosis, laparoscopic ablation of endometrial implants has been associated with a small but significant improvement in live birth rates. Two RCTs have evaluated effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for Stage I or II endometriosis associated with infertility, with only one study demonstrating benefit (26, 27). Both studies permitted surgical discretion in the intervention regarding excision or ablation. The primary outcomes were slightly different: the Italian study analyzed pregnancies that occurred within one year after laparoscopy and proceeded to live births (27); the Canadian study analyzed pregnancies that occurred within 36 weeks after laparoscopy and proceeded to gestation of 20 weeks, an end-point which is nearly identical to the live birth rate (26). In the Italian study, 10/51 (20%) and 10/45 (22%) of the treated and untreated patients, respectively, were successful. In the Canadian study, 50/172 (29%) and 29/169 (17%) of the treated and untreated patients, respectively, were successful. The baseline untreated pregnancy rates were 22% in 52 weeks and 17% in 36 weeks, respectively, in the Italian and Canadian studies, indicating that the patient populations were similar. The main difference was the lower power of the Italian study, which was planned to detect a 2.7-fold higher live birth rate with ablation/resection (27). When the results are combined, there is no significant statistical heterogeneity, and the overall absolute difference is 8.6% in favor of therapy (95% CI 2.1, 15) (37). The number needed to treat is 12 (95% CI 7, 49). Thus, for every 12 patients having Stage I/II endometriosis diagnosed at laparoscopy, there will be one additional successful pregnancy if ablation/resection of visible endometriosis is performed compared to no treatment. However, this benefit would apply only to those who have endometriosis. Given the conservative estimate that approximately 30% of asymptomatic patients with otherwise unexplained infertility will be diagnosed with endometriosis, the number of laparoscopies that need to be performed to gain one additional pregnancy is actually 40. There is no evidence that the outcome is affected by the method of ablation, either electrosurgery or laser delivery systems (26).

With respect to severe endometriosis, a non-randomized study demonstrated that the cumulative pregnancy rates in 216 infertile patients followed for up to two years after laparoscopy or laparotomy were 45% and 63%, respectively (37). Laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas greater than 4 cm improved fertility compared to cyst drainage and coagulation, which is associated with a high risk of cyst recurrence (38). While these and other observational studies suggest that, in women with Stage III/IV endometriosis who have no other identifiable infertility factors, conservative surgical treatment with laparoscopy and possible laparotomy may increase fertility (29), a possible adverse consequence is the loss of viable ovarian cortex (39). After the first infertility operation, additional surgery has only rarely increased fecundability, and these patients may be better served by using assisted reproductive technology (ART) (40).


COMBINATION MEDICAL AND SURGICAL THERAPY

Combination medical and surgical therapy for endometriosis consists of either preoperative or postoperative medical therapy. Although theoretically advantageous, there is no evidence in the literature that combination medical-surgical treatment significantly enhances fertility, and it may unnecessarily delay further fertility therapy. Preoperative therapy is reported to reduce pelvic vascularity and the size of endometriotic implants, thus reducing intraoperative blood loss and decreasing the amount of surgical resection needed. It is unknown if preoperative therapy will make it more difficult to identify and therefore treat lesions at the time of surgery. Postoperative medical therapy has been advocated as a means of eradicating residual endometriotic implants in patients with extensive disease in whom resection of all implants is impossible or inadvisable. Postoperative hormonal therapy also may treat ‘‘microscopic disease’’; however, none of these treatments has been proven to enhance fertility. Based on biological plausibility and expert opinion, but not on evidence from clinical trials, these therapies are sometimes advocated to reduce pain.


SUPEROVULATION AND INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION

Several studies report success with superovulation (SO)/ intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility. Review of this subject is complicated as most studies have included women whose endometriosis was ‘‘treated’’ prior to SO/IUI or have included women with unexplained infertility (some of whom are presumed to have minimal endometriosis). In a cross-over RCT among patients with unexplained infertility or surgically corrected endometriosis, the pregnancy rate per cycle was significantly higher with four cycles of clomiphene citrate/ IUI than with four cycles of timed intercourse (9.5% versus 3.3%, respectively) (41). A randomized trial among 49 women with stage I/II endometriosis and infertility compared three cycles of gonadotropin/IUI with six months of expectant management (42). The pregnancy rate per cycle was 15% in the gonadotropin/IUI group and 4.5% in the untreated group (P<0.05). Another study reported increased fecundity with gonadotropin therapy compared to no treatment (7.3% vs. 2.8% respectively) in women with infertility and minimal or mild endometriosis (43) (Table 1).

Other studies have shown that the clinical pregnancy rate using SO/IUI shortly after laparoscopic excision of minimal or mild endometriosis was comparable in women with unexplained infertility (some of whom likely had untreated endometriosis). The per-cycle pregnancy rates in women with minimal endometriosis, mild endometriosis, or unexplained infertility were 21%, 18.9%, and 20.5%, respectively. Cumulative live-birth rates following 4 cycles were also comparable among the three groups (70.2%, 68.2%, and 66.5%, respectively) (44). Thus, Level II evidence and one small trial suggest that SO/IUI may be a viable treatment option for women who have had a surgical diagnosis and treatment of stage I or II endometriosis as an alternative to in vitro fertilization (IVF) or further surgical therapy. There is insufficient evidence to determine if SO/IUI is more successful after endometriosis is diagnosed and treated compared to minimal or mild endometriosis left undiagnosed or untreated.


ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY

A recent report on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVFET) outcomes in the United States indicates that the overall delivery rate per retrieval in infertile women ranges from 44.6% in those under 35 years of age to 14.9% in those 41–42 years of age. The average delivery rate per retrieval for all diagnoses was 33.2%, compared with 39.1% for women with endometriosis (45). This is in contrast to a meta-analysis of observational studies which found that women with endometriosis-associated infertility had lower pregnancy rates with IVF than those with tubal factor infertility (OR 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.70) (46). In addition, pregnancy rates in those with severe endometriosis were lower than in those with mild disease (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.87). This same study showed that there were significant decreases in fertilization and implantation rates and in the number of oocytes retrieved in patients with endometriosis. The discrepancy between the results from the meta-analysis and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) data may be due to confounding variables from unadjusted analyses (for example, women with endometriosis that undergo IVF may be younger than women that undergo IVF for other reasons) and bias resulting from use of non-adjudicated data collected in a registry (45).

While endometriosis may affect IVF results, IVF likely maximizes cycle fecundity for those with endometriosis, especially in those with distortion of pelvic anatomy due to moderate or severe disease. There are few studies comparing the use of IVF in women with endometriosis to expectant management. In one RCT, a sub-group of 21 women with endometriosis and infertility had IVF (n ¼ 15) or expectant management (n ¼ 6) (47). None of the women in the expectant management group became pregnant compared to five of the 15 women who received IVF-ET (33%, P¼not significant) (47).

The impact of ovarian endometriomas on ART outcomes remains controversial. There are no randomized trials comparing laparoscopic excision to expectant management before IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. One case-control study involving 189 patients found that laparoscopic cystectomy before commencing an IVF cycle did not improve fertility outcomes (48). A second retrospective comparison of 171 subjects with an endometrioma or tubal factors also concluded that aspiration of endometriomas before controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) did not increase the number of follicles >17 mm, the number of metaphase II oocytes retrieved, or the clinical pregnancy rates. At the same time, conservative surgical treatment in symptomatic patients did not impair the success rates of IVF or ICSI. Thus, to date, evidence suggests that surgery does not benefit asymptomatic women with an endometrioma prior to scheduled IVF/ICSI. However, there are no studies evaluating impact of size of the endometrioma on outcome. In each case the benefits and risks should be balanced by clinicians (49). Possible benefits of surgical treatment prior to IVF, especially for large endometriomas, include prevention of possible ruptured endometrioma, facilitation of oocyte retrieval, detection of occult malignancy (particularly in view of a large study confirming an association between endometriosis and certain ovarian cancers [50]), avoidance of contamination of follicular fluid with endometrioma content, and prevention of progression of endometriosis. Disadvantages of surgery include surgical trauma, surgical complications, economic costs, potential decreased ovarian response, and lack of evidence for improved IVF pregnancy rates (51).

A summary of three randomized controlled trials that included a total of 165 women concluded that administration of GnRH agonists for a period of 3–6 months prior to IVF or ICSI in women with endometriosis increases the odds of clinical pregnancy (OR 4.28, 95% CI, 2.00 to 9.15) (52). However, the very high reported clinical pregnancy rates of 75% and 80% in the treatment arms of two of these studies makes these studies difficult to extrapolate to other populations (53, 54). It is also unclear whether this therapy is equally beneficial for mild and severe stages of the disease and what the mechanism might be.


PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

Women with endometriosis have been shown to have adverse obstetrical outcomes compared to those without endometriosis. A Swedish cohort study evaluated 8,922 women diagnosed with endometriosis who delivered 13,090 singleton infants from the national medical birth registry of over 1.4 million singleton births (55). Compared to women without endometriosis, the risk of preterm birth associated with endometriosis among women with ART was 1.24 (95% CI, 0.99–1.57), and among women without ART, 1.37 (95% CI, 1.25–1.50). In addition, women with endometriosis had higher risk of pre-eclampsia (OR 1.13, 95% CI, 1.02–1.26), antepartum bleeding/placental complications (OR 1.76, 95% CI, 1.56–1.99) and cesarean section (OR 1.47, 95% CI, 1.40–1.54). There was no association between endometriosis and small for gestational age-birth or stillbirth. It is not clear if these associations are related to the endometriosis, the resulting infertility, or the ART treatment therapy.


DECISIONS AMONG INFERTILE WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

Clinical decisions in the management of infertility associated with endometriosis are difficult because many clinical decision points have not been evaluated in RCTs. Moreover, the observational data are conflicting and prevent confident conclusions.

For infertile women with suspected stage I/II endometriosis, a decision must be made whether to perform laparoscopy before offering treatment with clomiphene, gonadotropins, or IVF-ET. Clearly, factors such as the woman's age, duration of infertility, ability to undergo IVF-ET, family history, and pelvic pain must be taken into consideration. Because it is uncommon to find advanced stage endometriosis in an asymptomatic woman (with a normal ultrasound), there is low utility in performing laparoscopy in asymptomatic women. When laparoscopy is performed, ablation or excision of visible endometriosis should be considered based on Level I evidence. This should be discussed openly with the patient when planning her treatment. Expectant management after laparoscopy is an option for younger women. Alternatively, superovulation with IUI may be offered, although the evidence indicates that the number of cycles needed to achieve an additional pregnancy is 14 (56).

Female age is an important factor in designing therapy. After age 35 years, there is a significant decrease in fecundity and an increase in the spontaneous miscarriage rate. Fecundity may be decreased due to the additive adverse effects of endometriosis and increasing age. Consequently, in the older infertile woman with endometriosis, a more aggressive therapeutic plan with either SO/IUI or IVF-ET may be reasonable. The patient with endometriosis should be informed that she may have a decreased success rate after IVF compared to a woman undergoing IVF for another indication, for example, tubal factor infertility.

For infertile women with ASRM stage III/IV endometriosis and no other identifiable infertility factor, conservative surgery with laparoscopy and/or possible laparotomy or IVF are recommended (28). Although not evaluated with RCTs, observational studies suggest that surgical therapy increases fertility in women with advanced endometriosis, thus discouraging expectant management.

For women who are found to have an asymptomatic endometrioma and who are planning to undergo IVF/ICSI, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that removal of the endometrioma will improve IVF success rates. However, if the endometrioma is large (>4 cm), surgery should be considered to confirm the diagnosis histologically, to improve access to follicles during oocyte retrieval, and possibly to improve ovarian response. The patient should be made aware that extensive ovarian surgery could compromise ovarian function and diminish the response to ovarian stimulation.

For infertile women who have stage III/IV endometriosis and have previously had one or more infertility operations, IVF-ET is often a better therapeutic option than another surgical intervention, though this is another question that has not been addressed in any randomized trial. In one retrospective study, 23 women with stage III/IV endometriosis underwent IVF-ET and 18 women underwent repeat surgery (43). The pregnancy rate after two cycles of IVF-ET was 70%, whereas the cumulative pregnancy rate was 24% within 9 months of a repeat operation. If initial surgery fails to restore fertility in patients with moderate to severe endometriosis, IVF-ET is an effective alternative. Current data are insufficient to estimate the effect of surgical treatment in addition to IVF-ET on the outcome of pregnancy in endometriosisassociated infertility.


SUMMARY

  • There is insufficient evidence to indicate that resection of endometriomas prior to IVF improves outcomes.
  • IVF success rates in women with endometriosis appear to be diminished compared to women with tubal factor infertility; however, IVF likely maximizes cycle fecundity for those with endometriosis.
  • Women with endometriosis have higher incidences of preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, antepartum bleeding/placental complications, and cesarean section when compared to women without endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS

  • Female age, duration of infertility, pelvic pain, and stage of endometriosis should be considered when formulating a management plan.
  • The benefit of laparoscopic treatment of minimal or mild endometriosis is insufficient to recommend laparoscopy solely to increase the likelihood of pregnancy.
  • When laparoscopy is performed for other indications, the surgeon may consider safely ablating or excising visible lesions of endometriosis.
  • In younger women (under age 35 years) with stage I/II endometriosis-associated infertility, expectant management or SO/IUI can be considered as first-line therapy.
  • For women 35 years of age or older, more aggressive treatment, such as SO/IUI or IVF may be considered.
  • In women with stage III/IV endometriosis-associated infertility, conservative surgical therapy with laparoscopy or possible laparotomy may be beneficial.
  • Surgical management of an endometrioma should include resection or ablation, rather than drainage, with resection preferred.
  • For women with stage III/IV endometriosis who fail to conceive following conservative surgery or because of advancing reproductive age, IVF-ET is an effective alternative.


Acknowledgments:

This report was developed under the direction of the Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine as a service to its members and other practicing clinicians. Although this document reflects appropriate management of a problem encountered in the practice of reproductive medicine, it is not intended to be the only approved standard of practice or to dictate an exclusive course of treatment. Other plans of management may be appropriate, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, available resources, and institutional or clinical practice limitations. The Practice Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have approved this report.

The Practice Committee acknowledges the special contribution of Beata Seeber, MD in the preparation of this document. The following members of the ASRM Practice Committee participated in the development of this document. All Committee members disclosed commercial and financial relationships with manufacturers or distributors of goods or services used to treat patients. Members of the Committee who were found to have conflicts of interest based on the relationships disclosed did not participate in the discussion or development of this document. Samantha Pfeifer, M.D.; Marc Fritz, M.D.; Jeffrey Goldberg, M.D.; R. Dale McClure, M.D.; Roger Lobo, M.D.; Michael Thomas, M.D.; Eric Widra, M.D.; Glenn Schattman, M.D.; Mark Licht, M.D.; John Collins, M.D.; Marcelle Cedars, M.D.; Catherine Racowsky, Ph.D.; Michael Vernon, Ph.D.; Owen Davis, M.D.; Kurt Barnhart, M.D., MSCE; Clarisa Gracia, M.D., MSCE; William Catherino, M.D., Ph.D.; Robert Rebar, M.D.; and Andrew La Barbera, Ph.D.


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  25. Kissler S, Hamscho N, Zangos S, Gatje R, Muller A, Rody A, et al. Diminished pregnancy rates in endometriosis due to impaired uterotubal transport assessed by hysterosalpingoscintigraphy. BJOG 2005;112:1391–6.
  26. Marcoux S, Maheux R, Berube S. Laparoscopic surgery in infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis. Canadian Collaborative Group on Endometriosis. N Engl J Med 1997;337:217–22.
  27. Parazzini F. Ablation of lesions or no treatment in minimal-mild endometriosis in infertile women: a randomized trial. Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dell' Endometriosi. Hum Reprod 1999;14:1332–4.
  28. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis: 1996. Fertil Steril 1997;67:817–21.
  29. Schenken RS. Modern concepts of endometriosis. Classification and its consequences for therapy. J Reprod Med 1998;43:269–75.
  30. Adamson GD, Pasta DJ. Endometriosis fertility index: the new, validated endometriosis staging system. Fertil Steril 2010;94:1609–15.
  31. Bayer SR, Seibel MM, Saffan DS, Berger MJ, Taymor ML. Efficacy of danazol treatment for minimal endometriosis in infertile women. A prospective, randomized study. J Reprod Med 1988;33:179–83.
  32. Fedele L, Parazzini F, Radici E, Bocciolone L, Bianchi S, Bianchi C, et al. Buserelin acetate versus expectant management in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:1345–50.
  33. Hughes E, Brown J, Collins JJ, Farquhar C, Fedorkow DM, Vandekerckhove P. Ovulation suppression for endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007:CD000155.
  34. Telimaa S. Danazol and medroxyprogesterone acetate inefficacious in the treatment of infertility in endometriosis. Fertil Steril 1988;50:872–5.
  35. Thomas EJ, Cooke ID. Successful treatment of asymptomatic endometriosis: does it benefit infertile women? Br Med J 1987;294:1117–9.
  36. Hull ME, Moghissi KS, Magyar DF, Hayes MF. Comparison of different treatment modalities of endometriosis in infertile women. Fertil Steril 1987;47:40–4.
  37. Crosignani PG, Vercellini P, Biffignandi F, Costantini W, Cortesi I, Imparato E. Laparoscopy versus laparotomy in conservative surgical treatment for severe endometriosis. Fertil Steril 1996;66:706–11.
  38. Chapron C, Vercellini P, Barakat H, Vieira M, Dubuisson JB. Management of ovarian endometriomas. Hum Reprod Update 2002;8:591–7.
  39. Donnez J, Nisolle M, Gillet N, Smets M, Bassil S, Casanas-Roux F. Large ovarian endometriomas. Hum Reprod 1996;11:641–6.
  40. Pagidas K, Falcone T, Hemmings R, Miron P. Comparison of reoperation for moderate (stage III) and severe (stage IV) endometriosis-related infertility with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1996;65:791–5.
  41. Deaton JL, Gibson M, Blackmer KM, Nakajima ST, Badger GJ, Brumsted JR. A randomized, controlled trial of clomiphene citrate and intrauterine insemination in couples with unexplained infertility or surgically corrected endometriosis. Fertil Steril 1990;54:1083–8.
  42. Fedele L, Bianchi S, Marchini M, Villa L, Brioschi D, Parazzini F. Superovulation with human menopausal gonadotropins in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a controlled randomized study. Fertil Steril 1992;58:28–31.
  43. Kemmann E, Ghazi D, Corsan G, BohrerMK. Does ovulation stimulation improve fertility in women with minimal/mild endometriosis after laser laparoscopy? Int J Fertil Menopausal Stud 1993;38:16–21.
  44. Werbrouck E, Spiessens C, Meuleman C, D'Hooghe T. No difference in cycle pregnancy rate and in cumulative live-birth rate between women with surgically treated minimal to mild endometriosis and women with unexplained infertility after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination. Fertil Steril 2006;86:566–71.
  45. Society for Assisted Reproductive Techonology, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Assisted reproductive technology in the United States: 2010 results generated from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine/Society for Assisted Reproduction registry. Available at: www.sart.org. Last accessed May 24, 2012.
  46. Barnhart K, Dunsmoor-Su R, Coutifaris C. Effect of endometriosis on in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 2002;77:1148–55.
  47. Soliman S, Daya S, Collins J, Jarrell J. A randomized trial of in vitro fertilization versus conventional treatment for infertility. Fertil Steril 1993;59:1239–44.
  48. Garcia-Velasco JA, Mahutte NG, Corona J, Zuniga V, Giles J, Arici A, et al. Removal of endometriomas before in vitro fertilization does not improve fertility outcomes: a matched, case-control study. Fertil Steril 2004;81:1194–7.
  49. Garcia-Velasco JA, Somigliana E. Management of endometriomas in women requiring IVF: to touch or not to touch. Hum Reprod 2009;24:496–501.
  50. Pearce CL, Templeman C, Rossing MA, Lee A, Near AM, Webb PM, et al. Association between endometriosis and risk of histological subtypes of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of case-control studies. Lancet Oncol 2012;13:285–94.
  51. Somigliana E, Vercellini P, Vigano P, Ragni G, Crosignani PG. Should endometriomas be treated before IVF-ICSI cycles? Hum Reprod Update 2006;12:57–64.
  52. Sallam HN, Garcia-Velasco JA, Dias S, Arici A. Long-term pituitary downregulation before in vitro fertilization (IVF) for women with endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006:CD004635.
  53. Dicker D, Goldman JA, Levy T, Feldberg D, Ashkenazi J. The impact of longterm gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue treatment on preclinical abortions in patients with severe endometriosis undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1992;57:597–600.
  54. Surrey ES, Silverberg KM, Surrey MW, Schoolcraft WB. Effect of prolonged gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in patients with endometriosis. Fertil Steril 2002;78:699–704.
  55. Stephansson O, Kieler H, Granath F, Falconer H. Endometriosis, assisted reproduction technology, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Hum Reprod 2009;24:2341–7.
  56. Guzick DS, Carson SA, Coutifaris C, Overstreet JW, Factor-Litvak P, Steinkampf MP, et al. Efficacy of superovulation and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of infertility. N Engl J Med 1999;340:177–83.
  57. Chaffkin LM, Nulsen JC, Luciano AA, Metzger DA. A comparative analysis of the cycle fecundity rates associated with combined human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) versus either hMG or IUI alone. Fertil Steril 1991;55:252–7.

Practice Documents

ASRM Practice Documents have been developed to assist physicians with clinical decisions regarding the care of their patients.
PracticeDocument_Teaser.webp

The use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy: a committee opinion (2024)

PGT-A use in the U.S. is rising, but its value as a routine IVF screening test is unclear, with mixed results from various studies.
PracticeDocument_Teaser.webp

Evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for uterine septum: a guideline (2024)

To provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the diagnosis and effectiveness of surgical treatment of a uterine septum.
PracticeDocument_Teaser.webp

The use of hormonal contraceptives in fertility treatments: a committee opinion (2024)

Hormonal contraception aids in the timing of ART cycles, reduce ovarian cysts at IVF cycle initiation, and optimize visualization before hysteroscopy.
Practice Committee Documents teaser

Current evaluation of amenorrhea: a committee opinion (2024)

Amenorrhea is the absence or abnormal cessation of the menses.

More Resources

MAC 2021 teaser
ASRM Academy on the Go

ASRM MAC Tool 2021

The ASRM Müllerian Anomaly Classification 2021 (MAC2021) includes cervical and vaginal anomalies and standardize terminology within an interactive tool format.

View the MAC Tool
EMR Phrases teaser
Practice Guidance

EMR Shared Phrases/Template Library

This resource includes phrases shared by ASRM physician members to provide a template for individuals to create their own EMR phrases.

View the library
Practice Committee Documents teaser

ASRM Practice Documents

These guidelines have been developed by the ASRM Practice Committee to assist physicians with clinical decisions regarding the care of their patients.

View ASRM Practice Documents
Ethics Committee teaser

ASRM Ethics Opinions

Ethics Committee Reports are drafted by the members of the ASRM Ethics Committee on the tough ethical dilemmas of reproductive medicine.

View ASRM Ethics Opinions
Coding Corner general teaser
Practice Guidance

Coding Corner Q & A

The Coding Corner Q & A is a list of previously submitted and answered questions from ASRM members about coding. Answers are available to ASRM Members only.

View the Q & A
Covid-19 teaser
Practice Guidance

COVID-19 Resources

A compendium of ASRM resources concerning the Novel Corona virus (SARS-COV-2) and COVID-19.

View the resources
Couple looking at laptop for online patient education materials

Patient Resources

ReproductiveFacts.org provides a wide range of information related to reproductive health and infertility through patient education fact sheets, infographics, videos, and other resources.

View Website

Topic Resources

View more on the topic of endometriosis
Podcast Icon

Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: October 2024

Topics include: mechanical contractions and fibroid progression, endometriosis classification and risk of infertility,  fertility coverage for military personnel and more. Listen to the Episode
Coding Icon

Billing for E/M Visits

When billing Evaluation & Management (E/M) visits based on medical decision-making, would we View the Answer
Videos Icon

How to Spot Endometriosis in 10 Minutes!

Learn how to identify endometriosis in patients within 10 minutes by gathering thorough menstrual history, spotting GI symptoms, and building a support team. View the ASRMed Talk Video
News Icon

What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals

Here’s a peek at this month’s issues from our family of journals! As an ASRM Member, you can access all of our journals.
Read More about the newest articles
Podcast Icon

Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: May 2024

Topics this month include Iatrogenic and demographic determinants of the national plural birth increase, outcomes between ICSI and IVF with PGT-A. Listen to the Episode
News Icon

What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals

Here’s a peek at this month’s issues from our family of journals! As an ASRM Member, you can access all of our journals.
Read More about the newest articles
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global: Actualidad En Tratamientos De Fertilidad Para Pacientes Con Endometriosis

Live in Spanish from the 2024 Peruvian Fertility Society Meeting - Lima, Peru View the Video
Coding Icon

Exclusion of IVF services due to Z31.83

My wife and I have been seeking IVF treatment and this year coverage was added to my benefits for infertility treatment (up to $25,000). View the Answer
Coding Icon

Coding for aspiration of hydrosalpinx and endometrioma

Surgery was performed under anesthesia for Aspiration of right hydrosalpinx fluid and right endometrioma. Which CPT code would be best to use? View the Answer
Coding Icon

IVF coverage denied for Z31.83 diagnosis code

My wife and I have been seeking IVF treatment and coverage was added for infertility treatment (up to $25,000) but our insurer keeps denying it. View the Answer
Coding Icon

Medication Administration

 Is CPT code 96402 applicable to a Depo-Lupron or Zoladex injection by nurse at REI practice, even if there is no diagnosis of cancer?  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Endometriosis and Infertility

For treatment like IVF would we bill with N97.x first or an endometriosis diagnosis? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Excision Ovarian Endometrioma

What code is used for a laparoscopic excision of endometriosis and an ovarian excision of endometrioma with bilateral ureterolysis is performed. View the Answer
Coding Icon

Endometriosis

A summary of common codes for Endometriosis compiled by the ASRM Coding Committee View the Coding Summary
Awards Icon

Drs. Camran, Farr, and Ceana Nezhat Travel Scholar Award for Endometriosis

The objective of this award is to provide any trainee whose abstract submission focuses on endometriosis to expand their experience in the field. View the Award Information
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global: Surgical management of endometriosis in women diagnosed with infertility (Spanish language)

Fertility and Sterility is excited to partner with our global professional colleagues to begin broadcasting regular Journal Club Global events in Spanish.
View the Video
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global: Non-invasive Diagnosis of Endometriosis

One of the most exciting developments in the field of endometriosis is the push towards earlier and less invasive approaches to diagnosis. View the Video
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global - Does the Endometrium Play a Major Role in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility

This will be a virtual event in the style of the "Fertile Battle" debate that took place at the 2019 SREI Fellows Symposium View the Video
Coding Icon

Feb 2023: New Endometriosis and Isthmocele Codes

On June 9, 2022 the CDC issued updates to the ICD-10-CM code set reflecting more than 1,400 changes to your diagnosis coding options. View the Letter
Document Icon

Best practices of ASRM and ESHRE: a journey through reproductive medicine (2012)

ASRM and ESHRE are the two largest societies in the world whose members comprise the major experts and professionals working in reproductive medicine. View the Committee Joint Guideline
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Endometriosis Special Interest Group (EndoSIG)

The mission of the Endometriosis Special Interest Group (EndoSIG) is to further the goals of the ASRM by fostering increased interest in the biology, pathophysiology and clinical management of endometriosis. Learn more about the EndoSIG

Topic Resources

View more on the topic of infertility
Document Icon

Use of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic adult-onset conditions: an Ethics Committee opinion (2024)

Preimplantation genetic testing for adult-onset monogenic diseases is ethically allowed when fully penetrant or conferring disease predisposition. View the Committee Opinion
PR Bulletin Icon

Fertility Care Gets Important Win in California

ASRM celebrates California's SB 729, expanding IVF coverage for same-sex couples and singles, advancing equitable fertility care access.

View the Press Release
Coding Icon

Appropriate Use of Modifier -25

Is Modifier -25 appropriate in the monitoring cycle when an ultrasound View the Answer
Coding Icon

Billing for E/M Visits

When billing Evaluation & Management (E/M) visits based on medical decision-making, would we View the Answer
Coding Icon

When to use code Z31.83

When a patient is completing an approved fertility cycle, is it necessary View the Answer
Coding Icon

Timed Intercourse Cycle Codes

Is it appropriate to utilize codes N97.8 or View the Answer
Document Icon

The use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy: a committee opinion (2024)

PGT-A use in the U.S. is rising, but its value as a routine IVF screening test is unclear, with mixed results from various studies. View the Committee Opinion
Advocacy Icon

National Infertility Awareness Week

April 20-26, 2025, is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)! 

View the NIAW Toolkit
Videos Icon

Fertility Support and AI: Help or Hinderance

Discover how fertility apps impact patient care and nursing staff. Explore the balance between tech and human touch in complex fertility treatments View the ASRMed Talk Video
Podcast Icon

Fertility and Sterility On Air - Seminal Article: Ernest Ng and Zhi Chen

June issue Seminal Contribution: a randomized controlled trial studying the use of progestins for ovulation supression in predicted high responders.  Listen to the Episode
PR Bulletin Icon

ASRM announces support for HOPE with Fertility Services Act

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is proud to endorse the HOPE with Fertility Services Act (HR 8821).

View the Press Release
Coding Icon

HyCoSy and CPT 74740

When Office HSG/HyCoSy is performed but no x-ray/fluoroscopic imaging is performed, only ultrasound is done, is it appropriate to bill CPT code 74740? View the Answer
Document Icon

Subclinical hypothyroidism in the infertile female population: a guideline (2024)

This guideline reviews the risks and benefits of treating subclinical hypothyroidism in female patients with a history of infertility and miscarriage. View the Committee Guideline
Document Icon

Tobacco or marijuana use and infertility: a committee opinion (2023)

In the United States, approximately 21% of adults report some form of tobacco use, although 18% report marijuana use. View Committee Opinion
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global: The future of REI Fellowship training: debating opportunities and threats

This exciting collaboration discusses the controversy and future directions for the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility medicine. View the Video
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global: Infertility and Subclinical Hypothyroidism

The impact of treating SCH on fertility, obstetric outcomes, and offspring neurocognitive development is debated in the literature. View the Video
Document Icon

Ethical considerations for telemedical delivery of fertility care: an Ethics Committee opinion (2024)

Telemedicine has the potential to increase access to and decrease the cost of care. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Ethical obligations in fertility treatment when intimate partners withhold information from each other: an Ethics Committee opinion (2024)

Clinicians should encourage disclosure between intimate partners but should maintain confidentiality where there is no harm to the partner and/or offspring. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Definition of infertility: a committee opinion (2023)

‘‘Infertility’’ is a disease, condition, or status characterized by several factors. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Diagnostic evaluation of sexual dysfunction in the male partner in the setting of infertility: a committee opinion (2023)

It is the responsibility of the clinician to assess for erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, or diminished libido in men presenting for infertility. View the Committee Opinion
Videos Icon

Journal Club Global - Actualización en la suplementación con progesterona en fase lútea para transferencias de embriones congelados

Efectividad del rescate de progesterona en mujeres que presentan niveles bajos de progesterona circulante alrededor del día de la transferencia de embriones View the Video
Document Icon

The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2017†‡§ (2017)

Terms and definitions currently used infertility care, infertility and medically assisted reproduction (MAR) can have different meanings that are dependent upon the setting, their usage in research or clinical interventions, or among diverse populations.
View the Committee Joint Guideline
Document Icon

Endometriosis and infertility: a committee opinion (2012)

Women with endometriosis typically present with pelvic pain, infertility, or an adnexal mass, and may require surgery. View the Committee Opinion
Coding Icon

Testing With No History of Infertility

What diagnosis codes should  providers submit to insurance carriers while trying to evaluate fertility issues? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Self-referred New Patient

A patient self-refers to our physician for an initial new patient consultation instead of referred by another physician, how do we code for the consult? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Surgery Coding

I took the ASRM coding course, and in that course, coding for bilateral neosalpingostomies was coded using only a dx of N70.11 (hydrosalpinx). View the Answer
Coding Icon

Telephone Consult

Does a physician need to speak directly to a patient to code for a telephone consult (99371-99373) or can a staff member relay physician notes to patients? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Post Vasectomy Infertility

If a husband has had a vasectomy, does the sterilization code apply to the wife's visits? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Pregnancy Of Uncertain Viability Ultrasound

My staff is telling me that I am getting reimbursed for the first sonogram and OB visit (using ICD 10 code for pregnancy of uncertain viability – O36.80X0. View the Answer
Coding Icon

Pregnancy Ultrasound

Our practice does routine ultrasounds (sac check- 76817) at the end of an IVF cycle and bill with a diagnosis code O09.081, pregnancy resulting from ART.  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Psychological Evaluation

Many REs require patients (and their spouses/partners) who are considering using donor gametes to see an infertility counselor first. View the Answer
Coding Icon

Infertility Consult

Does ASRM have any examples of evaluation and management documentation for patients being seen for an initial infertility evaluation? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Infertility Consult by Nurse

What code is used for a nurse practitioner seeing a fertility patient for the first time? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Initial Visit for Infertility With No Mandated Coverage

What code would be appropriate for an initial visit for infertility?  View the Answer
Coding Icon

IUI or IVF

Should other ovarian dysfunction (diagnosis code E28.8) or unspecified ovarian dysfunction (diagnosis code E28.9) can be used for an IUI or an IVF cycle View the Answer
Coding Icon

Monitoring E&M

Our group would like to know if others are billing an evaluation and management code for ultrasound and blood draw visits? View the Answer
Coding Icon

New vs Established Patient

How soon can you bill as a new infertility patient? View the Answer
Coding Icon

General E&M Consult

Recently we have received a “re-code” on a new patient (we billed a 99203 and the insurance re-coded it to a 99213).  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Hysteroscopy Recurrent Implantation Failure

What is the appropriate ICD-10 code for recurrent implantation failure?  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Diagnosis of Infertility for IVF Procedure

How important is it to have accurate documentation of the type of infertility diagnosis for IVF procedures?  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Diagnostic Testing of an Infertile Couple

The Z31.41 is or is not the correct code to use for diagnostic testing of an infertile couple? And If so can if be used as the primary and only code? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Blood Draws

If a patient comes in only for a blood draw (venipuncture) and is seen only by the lab technician (not an MD, PA, or NP), may we bill for a (minimal) office visit? View the Answer
Coding Icon

Blood Tests

Patients are requesting to have lab work drawn from the female patient moved to the males account due to the female fertility coverage being maxed out.  View the Answer
Coding Icon

Male Infertility

A summary of common codes for Male Infertility compiled by the ASRM Coding Committee. View the Coding Summary
Document Icon

ASRM müllerian anomalies classification 2021

The Task Force set goals for a new classification and chose to base it on the iconic AFS classification from 1988 because of its simplicity and recognizability. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for non–male factor indications: a committee opinion (2020)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is frequently used in combination with assisted reproductive technologies. View the Committee Document
Document Icon

Moving innovation to practice: an Ethics Committee opinion (2021)

The introduction of new strategies, tests, and procedures into clinical practice raises challenging ethical issues. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion (2021)

Diagnostic evaluation for infertility in women should be conducted in a systematic, expeditious, and cost-effective manner. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Fertility treatment when the prognosis is very poor or futile: an Ethics Committee opinion (2019)

The Ethics Committee recommends that in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers develop patient-centered policies regarding requests for futile treatment.  View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Use of exogenous gonadotropins for ovulation induction in anovulatory women: a committee opinion (2020)

Pretreatment evaluation, indications, treatment regimens, and complications of gonadotropin treatment. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Reproductive and hormonal considerations in women at increased risk for hereditary gynecologic cancers: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and American Society for Reproductive Medicine Evidence-Based Review (2019)

Providers who care for women at risk for hereditary gynecologic cancers must consider the impact of these conditions. View the Joint Statement
Document Icon

Guidance for Providers Caring for Women and Men Of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure (Updated 2019)

This ASRM guidance specifically addresses Zika virus infection issues and concerns of individuals undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). View the Guideline
Document Icon

American Society for Reproductive Medicine position statement on uterus transplantation: a committee opinion (2018)

Following the birth of the first child from a transplanted uterus in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2014, other centers worldwide have produced scientific reports. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Child-rearing ability and the provision of fertility services: an Ethics Committee opinion (2017)

Fertility programs may withhold services on the basis that patients will be unable to provide minimally adequate or safe care for offspring. View the Committee Opinion
Document Icon

Removal of myomas in asymptomatic patients to improve fertility and/or reduce miscarriage rate: a guideline (2017)

This review evaluates if uterine myomas impact likelihood of pregnancy and pregnancy loss, and if myomectomy influences pregnancy outcomes. View the Guideline
Document Icon

Improving the Reporting of Clinical Trials of Infertility Treatments (IMPRINT): modifying the CONSORT statement (2014)

Clinical trials testing infertility treatments often do not report on the major outcomes of interest to patients and clinicians and the public. View the Guideline