Fertility Outcomes After Ablation Using Plasma Energy Versus Cystectomy in Infertile Women With Ovarian Endometrioma: A Multicentric Comparative Study

Abstract

Study objective: To compare the probability of postoperative pregnancy in infertile women with ovarian endometrioma larger than 3 cm in diameter, managed by either ablation using plasma energy or cystectomy.

Design: A multicentric case-control study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Six surgical departments, affiliated with 4 university hospitals and 2 private facilities.

Patients: One hundred four infertile patients with ovarian endometrioma larger than 3 cm.

Interventions: Endometrioma ablation using plasma energy was performed in 64 patients (61.5%) and cystectomy in 40 patients (38.5%).

Measurements and main results: Patients were enrolled in the CIRENDO prospective cohort database (NCT02294825) from June 2009 to June 2014 and managed in 6 different facilities. The minimum length of follow-up was 1 year. Postoperative probabilities of pregnancy in patietns and control subjects were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox model was used to assess independent predictive factors for pregnancy. Patients managed by plasma energy were significantly older than patients managed by cystectomy, had significantly higher overall revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) score, and had higher rate of Douglas pouch obliteration, deep endometriosis, and colorectal localizations. After a mean follow-up of 35.3 ± 17.5 months (range, 12-60), fertility outcomes were comparable between the groups. The probability of pregnancy at 24 and 36 months after surgery in plasma energy and cystectomy groups was, respectively, 61.3% (95% CI, 48.2%-74.4%) versus 69.3% (95% CI, 54.5%-83%) and 84.4% (95% CI, 72%-93.4%) versus 78.3% (95% CI, 63.8%-90%). The Cox's model revealed that the type of surgical procedure on ovarian endometrioma had no statistically significant impact on the probability of pregnancy, after adjustment for women's age, bilateral cysts larger than 3 cm, colorectal endometriosis, and rAFS stage of endometriosis.

Conclusion: Postoperative pregnancy rates were comparable after management of ovarian endometrioma by either ablation using plasma energy or cystectomy despite an overall higher rate of unfavorable fertility predictive factors in women managed by ablation.

Keywords: Ablation; Cystectomy; Fertility; Ovarian endometrioma; Plasma energy; Pregnancy rate.