Risk factors for the development of tubo-ovarian abscesses in women with ovarian endometriosis: a retrospective matched case–control study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with the development of tubo-ovarian abscesses in women with ovarian endometriosis cysts. METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included 176 women: 44 with tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with ovarian endometriosis and 132 age-matched (1:3) patients with ovarian endometriosis but without tubo-ovarian abscesses. Diagnoses were made via surgical exploration and pathological examination. The potential risk factors of tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with ovarian endometriosis were evaluated using univariate analysis. The results (p ≤ 0.05) of these parameters were analyzed using a multivariate model. RESULTS: Five factors were included in the multivariate conditional logistic regression model, including in vitro fertilization, presence of an intrauterine device, lower genital tract infection, spontaneous rupture of ovarian endometriosis cysts, and diabetes mellitus. The presence of a lower genital tract infection (odds ratio 5.462, 95% CI 1.772–16.839) and spontaneous rupture of ovarian endometriosis cysts (odds ratio 2.572, 95% CI 1.071–6.174) were found to be statistically significant risk factors for tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with ovarian endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Among the factors investigated, genital tract infections and spontaneous rupture of ovarian endometriosis cysts were found to be involved in the occurrence of tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with ovarian endometriosis. Our findings indicate that tubo-ovarian abscesses associated with ovarian endometriosis may not be linked to in vitro fertilization as previously thought.