Effect of salpingectomy on ovarian response to superovulation in an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program

Objective: To investigate the effect of salpingectomy on the response of ea ch ovary in patients undergoing an IVF-ET treatment cycle and to compare th e results with those of patients who had not had surgery and were undergoin g IVF-ET during the same period. Design: A prospective study. Setting: Tertiary referral academic IVF unit. Patient(s): Twenty-nine ET cycles were evaluated in 29 patients who previou sly had undergone unilateral salpingectomy because of ectopic pregnancy (st udy group). Seventy-three patients with unexplained or male factor infertil ity served as controls. Intervention(s): Ovulation induction and IVF-ET. Main Outcome Measure(s): In the study group, mean ovarian volume, number of follicles, and number of oocytes recovered from each ovary were assessed a nd compared. The overall results, cycle characteristics, and pregnancy rate s of the two groups were compared. Result(s): Among the patients who had undergone salpingectomy, significantl y fewer follicles developed and consequently fewer oocytes were retrieved f rom the ovary on the operated side (4.4 versus 8.2 follicles and 3.8 versus 6.0 oocytes). There were no differences in the total numbers of follicles and oocytes recovered from both ovaries, the cycle characteristics, or the pregnancy rates between study and control groups. Conclusion(s): Salpingectomy has no detrimental effect on the total ovarian performance during IVF-ET treatment or on the outcome of IVF-ET. However, the ipsilateral ovary could be adversely affected. This could be detrimenta l in selected patients undergoing IVF-ET, in whom the second ovary already is compromised or missing. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:1035-8. (C) 1998 by Am erican Society for Reproductive Medicine.)