Background: Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Beyond medical treatment, surgical intervention is also a viable consideration. However, current guidelines do not clearly indicate whether laparoscopic cystectomy, ablative methods (CO2 laser vaporization, plasma energy), or sclerotherapy is the preferred option. Methods: We conducted searches in two databases (PubMed and Europe PMC) to retrieve articles containing the keywords 'surgical intervention for Endometrioma, ovarian reserve, pregnancy rates, fertility', published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023. We included articles presenting information on surgical intervention for endometrioma and its correlation with infertility parameters. Articles describing conservative treatment were excluded. Data were extracted by two authors using predefined criteria. Results: The initial database search produced 1376 articles, which were narrowed down to 41 relevant articles meeting the eligibility criteria. Conclusions: Laparoscopic cystectomy appears to impact postoperative anti-mullerian hormone levels, showing a stronger correlation with larger cysts and individual factors. CO2 laser vaporization demonstrates favorable results compared to traditional cystectomy. Combining GnRH agonist treatment with assisted reproduction treatment after cystectomy could be considered an alternative method. Plasma energy causes less damage to ovarian function, with pregnancy outcomes comparable to cystectomy. Sclerotherapy shows promising results for ovarian reserve preservation, recurrence rates, and safety. Further studies comparing these techniques are necessary to provide guidance to clinicians.
Keywords: CO2 laser vaporization; GnRH agonist treatment; anti-mullerian hormone; assisted reproduction treatment; endometrioma; endometriosis; laparoscopic cystectomy; plasma energy ablation; sclerotherapy.