The effect of hemostasis by electrocoagulation versus suture on endometrioma recurrence and pregnancy rates after laparoscopic cystectomy in endometriomas

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hemostasis by electrocoagulation versus suture on endometrioma recurrence and pregnancy rates after laparoscopic cystectomy in uni/bilateral endometriomas. Materials and Methods: Forty-six primary infertile patients wishing to conceive without any assisted reproductive treatments, between 18 and 42 years, with uni/bilateral endometriomas were retrospectively analyzed. Laparoscopic cystectomies were performed by the stripping method. Ovarian hemostasis was obtained either by suturing (n = 23) or by bipolar electrocoagulation (n = 22). Cyst recurrence was evaluated by postoperative ultrasound scan. Pregnancy was confirmed by serum Beta-human choronic gonadotropin (B-hCG) levels if the patient presented with menstrual delay. Results: The mean of age of the patients was 31.62 +/- 6.55 years old. There was no significant difference between study groups regarding age, body mass index (BMI), preoperative endometrioma size, or pre/post-operative hemoglobin/hematocrite (Hb/Htc) levels. The recurrence rate was higher in the electrocoagulation group than the suturing group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The spontaneous pregnancy rates were also similar between study groups. There was no significant difference between study groups considering unilaterality or bilaterality of endometriomas. Conclusion: Our preliminary data show that an operation on ovarian endometriomas-either electrocoagulation or suturing-may not affect endometrioma recurrence or spontaneous pregnancy rate.