New insights into the effects of endometriosis on IVF

It is not uncommon that a published paper offers unintended insights, unnoticed by its authors. This was to a substantial degree the case with a recent publication addressing the effects of endometriosis on IVF. Using donor–recipient cycles as the study population to isolate recipient effects, the well-executed study demonstrated only mildly adverse outcome effects of endometriosis on IVF cycle outcomes, to a substantial degree laying to rest this still controversial issue. In the process, however, the study also raised some very interesting – but left undiscussed – insights into a host of other issues with considerable relevance to endometriosis and IVF practice in the USA and UK. These are the subject of this communication.