Objective: To study subsequent fertility of patients who underwent embolization of the uterine arteries to treat postpartum hemorrhage.
Design: Retrospective cohort study between January 2000 and June 2006 with two patient groups: exposed and nonexposed to embolization for postpartum hemorrhage.
Setting: Level 3 maternity unit.
Patient(s): Fifty-three patients exposed to embolization and 106 nonexposed patients were included and paired according to several criteria: date of delivery, age, parity, whether the pregnancy was spontaneous or with fertility assistance, and mode of delivery.
Intervention(s): None.
Main outcomes measure(s): Occurence of pregnancy.
Result(s): Among patients exposed to embolization, 14 had been exposed to pregnancy and 12 had been pregnant. There was no statistically significant difference of occurrence of pregnancy between the nonembolized and embolized groups (P=.30).
Conclusion(s): According to the results, it seems that embolization does not alter subsequent fertility. This study nevertheless suggests a trend toward fewer pregnancies in the embolization group and reports three severe complications in that group. This trend deserves to be explored by further studies with higher statistical power. However, even if it would be difficult to provide complete reassurance to patients who have undergone embolization, better information regarding their subsequent fertility and potential risks could relieve them of their worries regarding a new pregnancy.
Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.