Impact of treatment interventions of endometriomas prior to in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Treatment of endometrioma before in vitro fertilization (IVF) is challenging as it may affect ovarian response to induction. Objective A systematic review to search for the available optimal management of ovarian endometrioma before ovulation induction in IVF. Search strategy Screening of the MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane database, and the clinical trial registration sites, covering the period from their inception up to June 2023 was done by two reviewers independently using the keywords ovarian endometrioma, ovarian endometriosis, endometrioma/surgery, endometrioma/hormonal treatment, randomized controlled trial(s), case-controlled studies, and cohort studies. Selection criteria All types of studies were included. Participants included were women with unilateral or bilateral ovarian endometriomas candidate for IVF/ICSI. We included 18 studies in the review. Three studies were randomized controlled parallel studies, six were prospective cohort, and nine were retrospective cohort studies. Data collection and analysis Data from all included studies were extracted by two authors (A. M., A. O.) independently. Data extracted included sample size, population characteristics including age, BMI, duration of infertility, ovarian reserve markers, cyst size, and bilaterality and induction protocol used. Main results We found 18 studies. Women with untreated endometrioma had significantly higher numbers of MII oocytes (the mean difference (MD) effect estimate was − 0.53 with [− 1.04, − 0.01] 95% CI and 0.04 P-value), higher number of obtained embryos (MD effect estimate was − 0.25 with [− 0.38, − 0.11] 95%CI and < 0.001 P-value), and required lower doses of gonadotropins for induction (MD effect estimate was 361.14 with [168.13, 5554.15] 95% CI and < 0.001 P-value) compared to those who had undergone surgical management of endometrioma. However, live birth (OR effect estimate was 0.79 with [0.54, 1.18] 95% CI and 0.25 P-value), clinical pregnancy (OR effect estimate was 0.95 with [0.72, 1.26] 95% CI and 0.73 P-value), miscarriage (OR effect estimate was 0.74 with [0.33, 1.63] 95% CI and 0.45 P-value), cancellation rates (OR effect estimate was 1.62 with [0.57, 4.66] 95% CI and 0.37 P-value), and the duration of stimulation (MD effect estimate was 0.19 with [− 0.42, − 0.81] 95% CI and 0.54 P-value) did not show any significant difference between the two groups of women. Hormonal treatment of endometrioma was associated with higher ongoing pregnancy rate (OR effect estimate was 3.39 with [1.83, 6.26] 95% CI and < 0.001 P-value), higher clinical pregnancy rate (OR effect estimate was 3.36 with [2.01, 5.63] 95% CI and < 0.001 P-value), and higher numbers of MII oocytes (MD effect estimate was 2.04 with [0.72, 3.36] 95% CI and 0.003 P-value) when compared to women who did not receive such therapy. These effects were evident in treatment with GnRH agonists, OCPs (oral contraceptive pills), and dienogest, while the miscarriage and cycle cancellation rates did not show these differences. Conclusions The optimal approach for treating endometrioma prior to IVF is not clear yet due to lack of well-designed randomized controlled trials. Registration number CRD42020151736.