IMPACT OF OVABLOC INTRATUBAL POLYMER ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE FALLOPIAN-TUBE

Treatment of the fallopian tubes by Ovabloc silicone intratubal polyme r (ITP; Dow Coming silastic 382 Medical-Grade Elastomer) is used for p ermanent female contraception. Studies on animals show minor structura l changes in the tubal epithelial lining caused by the ITP and suggest reversibility of tubal integrity after removal of the polymer. The ai m of this study was to examine the impact of the ITP on the human tuba l epithelial lining. From 13 patients treated with ITP, 23 fallopian t ubes were studied by light microscopy and transmission electron micros copy. The examined 19 isthmical and 10 ampullary parts show marked str uctural changes. In the isthmical parts of the fallopian tubes, cellul ar and ciliary changes develop immediately after insertion of the sili cone polymer. As for the ampullary parts, the cellular and ciliary cha nges are related to the ITP exposure time. The changes in the isthmus and ampulla are persistent for at least 15 months after removal of the ITP. It is not known whether the effects are reversible.