2 Surgical management of polycystic ovarian syndrome

The objective of this chapter is to review the role of surgical management of polycystic ovarian syndrome in infertile women. Pertinent studies and their references were identified through computer medline search. To date there is no standardization of the technique of laparoscopic ovarian drilling. However, it appears that the results are promising, with a high ovulation rate ranging between 70% and 90% and a pregnancy rate of 70%. Clomiphene citrate remains the first line of treatment to induce ovulation in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling can be offered to clomiphene-resistant women, especially to those who have also failed to respond to gonadotrophin treatment or who have experienced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It appears that the pregnancy rate after ovarian drilling is comparable with that for gonadotrophin therapy. However, until more complete and long-term data are available, caution must be exercised when offering this type of treatment.