Radical or conservative surgery for ectopic pregnancy? A follow-up study of fertility of 323 patients

Fertil Steril. 1988 Oct;50(4):580-3. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)60186-3.

Abstract

The fertility of 323 patients desiring pregnancy after operation for ectopic pregnancy was analyzed after a follow-up period of 1 to 11 years (mean 5.1 years). The conception rate was 82%. Full-term delivery was obtained in 79% of the pregnant patients and repeat ectopic pregnancy in 13%. Nulliparous women had a significantly lower (P less than 0.01) conception rate (74%) than parous women (86%). The operation method had no influence on subsequent fertility in women with an intact contralateral tube. The women with intact contralateral tubes had a significantly higher pregnancy (P less than 0.001) and full-term birth (P less than 0.01) rates (87% and 83%, respectively) but significantly lower (P less than 0.001) repeat ectopic pregnancy rate (9%) than the women with affected contralateral tube (51%, 56%, and 52%, respectively). Compared with the parous women (9%), the risk of repeat ectopic pregnancy was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher for nulliparous women (22%). Of the nulliparous women with repeat ectopic pregnancy only 16% had a full-term pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Fallopian Tubes / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / etiology*
  • Parity
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / surgery*