High frequency of endometrial polyps in endometriosis

Abstract

Study objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of hysteroscopy and the frequency of endometrial polyps in women with endometriosis.

Design: Retrospective clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Infertility unit at a university-affiliated hospital.

Patients: One hundred eighty-three infertile women, 92 with endometriosis and 91 controls without the disease.

Intervention: Laparoscopy and scoring of endometriosis according to the American Fertility Society classification, and confirmation of endometrial polyps by pathologic examination.

Measurements and main results: There was no significant difference between groups with regard to age, mean duration of infertility, and frequency of primary or secondary infertility. Endometrial polyps were found in 43 women (46.7%) with endometriosis and in 15 controls (16.5%, p = 0.0000). Their frequency did not differ significantly according to stage of endometriosis.

Conclusions: We strongly recommend hysteroscopy if endometriosis is detected in a woman undergoing evaluation for infertility, even if hysterosalpingography and transvaginal ultrasonography do not suggest endometrial polyps.