Endometriosis May Contribute to Oocyte Retrieval-Induced Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Report of Eight Cases

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a rare complication of transvaginal oocyte retrieval. It may result in failure of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). During a 7 years period, 5958 transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrievals resulted in 10 cases of acute PID. Eight out of 10 patients were diagnosed infertile because of endometriosis. Two patients had mild ovarian, 3 had stage III, and 2 had stage IV endometriosis. One patient had a 3-4 cm ovarian endometrioma. After treatment, no mortality was encountered among the 10 patients, although none of them conceived. This observation supports the previous reports that endometriosis can raise the risk of PID after oocyte retrieval. More vigorous antibiotic prophylaxis and better vaginal preparation are recommended when oocyte pickup is performed in patients with endometriosis.