Ovarian response to gonadotropins in patients with tubal factor infertility: salpingectomy versus nonsalpingectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of salpingectomy on the ovarian response to gonadotropins and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle outcomes in women with tubal factor infertility.

DESIGN

A retrospective study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3) SETTING: An in vitro fertilization laboratory in a university hospital in Taiwan.

PATIENTS

We analyzed the outcomes of 288 consecutive fresh IVF-ET cycles in 251 consecutive women with tubal factor infertility from January 2001 to December 2011. Two hundred eighty-eight cycles were divided into 2 groups comprising 103 cycles with laparoscopic salpingectomy and 185 cycles with prior bilateral tubal sterilization, laparoscopic tuboplasty, or proximal tubal occlusion as the control group.

INTERVENTIONS

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF-ET.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The main outcome was measured by comparing the duration of stimulation, number of gonadotropin ampoules per cycle, number of follicles, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate. We observed no significant difference in any ovarian response parameter between the salpingectomy and nonsalpingectomy groups. Implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, and live birth rates were similar. The mean numbers of follicles and oocytes retrieved ipsilateral to the operated side in the salpingectomy group were similar to the numbers of follicles and oocytes retrieved from the nonoperated ovary.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic salpingectomy did not have a negative effect on the ovarian response in women with tubal factor infertility.