Endometriosis is a highly prevalent disease among women of reproductive age and is often associated with infertility. The prevalence of endometriosis within the general population is estimated to range from 0.8% to 6%. However, studies have shown a higher prevalence in women experiencing issues of infertility or subfertility, with rates reaching approximately 20-50%.

Endometriosis may exist in various forms, and so far, no definitive correlation has been established between the invasiveness of these different forms and the extent of infertility. Many efforts have been made to define the correlation between endometriosis and subfertility: This includes the development of surgical/clinical scores and classifications to better understand the condition. Moreover, recent advancements in molecular research have been aimed at clarifying the aetiopathogenesis of the disease and the cellular difference between healthy women and the different forms of endometriosis.

The progress made up to now can identify some risk factors for subfertility in endometriotic patients: dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain; extensive disease with pelvic adhesions and tubal occlusion; chronic peritoneal inflammation; altered tubal motility. The challenge of the gynaecologist today is to understand when a surgical intervention is necessary and when it is not, how to optimize the research of pregnancy even in a context of pelvic pain, and to avoid unnecessary or late recourse to the assisted reproductive
techniques.

A strict collaboration between surgeons, researchers and fertility experts is necessary to better understand the mechanisms underlying the subfertility linked to the endometriosis and tailor the treatment. This collection aims to collect Original Research Articles and Reviews (Amongst other accepted article types) which will help expand our understanding of Endometriosis and infertility. Relevant topics include but are not limited to:

• Epidemiology of endometriosis
• Current treatment of endometriosis
• Molecular basis in defining endometriosis
• Infertility issues in endometriotic patients
• Surgery: if, when and where?
• New treatments and research issues

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Frontiers in Endocrinology

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