# Noninvasive BCL6 Preoperative Screening and Anatomic Patterns of Endometriosis in Patients with Unexplained Infertility

## TL;DR

This study shows that noninvasive BCL6 testing before surgery helps identify endometriosis in infertile patients with less disease spread and severity.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the clinical value of noninvasive BCL6 testing in preoperative endometriosis screening for unexplained infertility.

## Key findings

- Patients with preoperative BCL6 testing had fewer affected anatomical regions compared to those without testing.
- The non-testing group had a higher proportion of high-stage endometriosis cases.
- Common endometriosis sites included the periureteral region, rectovaginal septum, and ovaries.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, estrogen-dependent disease that has historically been underdiagnosed, especially in patients with unexplained infertility. On average, diagnosis is delayed by 11 years, underscoring the need for precision medicine to improve outcomes. To compare disease severity and anatomical distribution of endometriosis between patients with unexplained infertility who underwent noninvasive Receptiva BCL6 testing before surgery and those who did not. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 195 women with unexplained infertility and histologically confirmed endometriosis following diagnostic video laparoscopy, with or without robotic assistance. Disease severity was staged using updated guidelines. Anatomical sites of endometriosis were documented. Patients were grouped based on whether they had undergone the Receptiva BCL6 overexpression test prior to surgery. Results: Of the 195 patients, 43 underwent Receptiva testing; 41 of them tested positive and were confirmed to have endometriosis during surgery. These patients had fewer affected anatomical regions (3.14 ± 2.09) compared to those without testing (3.93 ± 2.26; p = 0.04). The No Receptiva group also had more high-stage cases (70.39% vs. 65.12%, p-value: 0.038). In both groups, endometriosis most frequently involved the periureteral region, rectovaginal septum, and ovaries, though ovarian tissue was rarely excised to preserve fertility. Conclusions: Among patients with unexplained infertility and confirmed endometriosis, those who had preoperative Receptiva testing showed lower disease burden and severity. These findings support the potential utility of noninvasive testing to enrich diagnostic accuracy and guide earlier, more targeted intervention.