Female fertility following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of distal ureteral calculi.

This study was prompted by a spontaneous abortion in a 21-year-old woman following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL ) of a distal ureteral calculus. To our knowledge, it is the first clinical retrospective study on the possible adverse effects of ESWL to the female reproductive tract. We analyzed treatment data and radiation exposure of 84 women in the reproductive period, and surveyed the patients by questionnaire, to which 67 (79.8%) responded. After ESWL 57 women (85.1%) practiced some form of contraception, while 10 childless women attempted to become pregnant. Overall 7 children with no malformations or chromosomal anomalies were born to 6 patients. Miscarriages were noted in 3 patients (4.5%) but they occurred at least 1 year after ESWL. Our data suggest that ESWL of lower ureteral calculi is a safe and effective procedure, and does not affect female fertility or lead to increased teratogenic risk.