The outcome of infertility treatment in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology after conservative therapy for endometrial cancer

Purpose

To elucidate the problems in infertility treatment for women after conservative therapy for endometrial cancer (EC) or atypical complex endometrial hyperplasia (ACEH).

Methods

The clinical outcomes of 21 patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology after conservative therapy (group A) and 42 control women (group B) were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

There was no significant difference in the number of retrieved oocytes, fertilization rate or the number of transferred embryos between the two groups. Women in group A had a significantly thinner endometrium and a reduced implantation rate compared to those for women in group B. There was no significant difference in the cumulative clinical pregnancy and delivery rates between group A and B. The patients in group A required significantly more embryos for achieving a live-birth.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that a thin endometrium after repeated curettage may have a negative effect on endometrial receptivity of patients after conservative treatment for EC/ACEH. Clinicians should reconsider their present protocols and make efforts to minimize the damage to normal endometrium.