Fertility outcome: long-term results after laparoscopic myomectomy

Abstract

From 1991 to 1998 ,29 patients desiring a pregnancy underwent laparoscopic myomectomy for symptomatic myomas measuring 5.4 ± 3.6 cm (mean ± SD) (median 5; range 1-9). The overall rate of intrauterinepregnancy was 65.5% (19 pregnancies; two patients had two pregnancies each). Results were analyzed in relation to different preoperative clinical conditions. Out of nine patients with other infertilityfactors associated with uterine myomas ,three (33.3%) became pregnant; out of 10 infertile patients with no other associated infertility factors ,seven (70%) became pregnant; out of 10 patients to whommyomectomy was performed for the rapid growth of the tumor or for myoma encroaching on the cavity ,nine (90%) had a pregnancy. Nine patients (73.4%) had a Cesarean section (one twice) ,four (26.6%) hadspontaneous vaginal delivery ,one patient had a serious placental failure at the 28th week ,and four patients (19%) miscarried. Two pregnancies are still in progress (one in a patient with previous miscarriage).Out of 21 pregnancies ,the viable term delivery rate was 57.14%. No uterine ruptures were observed. The pregnancy rate after laparoscopic myomectomy was similar to that reported in other studies after laparotomicmyomectomy.It is concluded that laparoscopic myomectomy is a reliable procedure even in the presence of multiple or enlarged myomas. Moreover ,our pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcome seem to indicatethat both desire for pregnancy and infertility prior to surgery should not be exclusion criteria for the laparoscopic approach.