The Society of Reproductive Surgeons is committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care for women. As reproductive surgeons, we know that surgery plays a valuable role in the treatment of gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids that impact fertility. However, surgery alone is not always sufficient to achieve pregnancy. Our patients deserve access to the full spectrum of proven treatments, including medical management, surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. Limiting IVF access under the guise of “restorative” care does not empower women; it restricts their choices and can delay or deny their family building goals.
The SRS statement on restorative reproductive medicine and the provision of comprehensive care for gynecologic conditions related to infertility
The Society of Reproductive Surgeons is dedicated to providing comprehensive medical and surgical care for common gynecologic conditions that affect fertility and reproductive health.
As fellowship-trained subspecialists with dedicated focus and experience in reproductive surgery, we support the thorough evaluation and treatment of conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS and other gynecologic disorders that can contribute to infertility. In our daily practice, we routinely seek out and often surgically treat these conditions to improve quality of life, alleviate pain, optimize unassisted conception, and determine when other fertility treatments are indicated. As advocates for our patients who deserve the highest levels of expert care, we feel compelled to clarify the expected impact of surgical intervention learned over decades of surgical experience and evidence-based research from well-designed studies.
Despite the many observed benefits of surgical treatment for pelvic pathology, surgery alone is not always sufficient to help women achieve their desired goals for pregnancy. For example, surgery as the sole fertility intervention for early-stage endometriosis will only lead to successful pregnancy in a minority of cases. Further, surgery is invasive, has associated risks, and should not be performed for the wrong indications or in the wrong context to avoid undue harm.
The discussion of surgery as a fertility treatment for gynecologic conditions must be individualized, nuanced, and fact-based, and should balance expectations, preferences, efficacy, and affordability. These conversations between a woman and her care provider should emphasize shared and fully informed decision making and must include the full range of evidence-based options for achieving fertility, including medical management, surgical intervention, and assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Any impairment of access to proven fertility treatments under the guise of “restorative” care does not empower women; it restricts their choices and can delay or deny opportunities for family building. Outsized claims regarding surgical efficacy in promoting unassisted conception that are based in political or social agendas can mislead the public and may lead to unnecessary surgeries that can cause harm.
Full spectrum reproductive care must remain central to any ethical and evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating infertility and prioritizing women’s reproductive wellness. As reproductive surgeons, we demand that our patients receive accurate information, individualized care, and the widest possible range of proven options to achieve their reproductive goals.