Maternal fertility is not affected by fetal surgery

The purpose of this report is to assess the impact of fetal surgery on futu re maternal fertility, subsequent pregnancy outcome, and the incidence of p regnancy complications. Retrospective data were collected on 70 mothers who underwent fetal surgery between April 1981 and June 1996. Indications for open hysterotomy fetal surgery included congenital diaphragmatic hernia (n = 44), congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (n = 11), uri nary obstruction (n = 9), sacrococcygeal teratoma (n = 4), heart block (n = 1), and acardiac-acephalic twin reduction (n = 1). The following data were obtained: number of pregnancy attempts, number of successful pregnancies, pregnancy outcome including obstetrical and neonatal complications, and inf ertility after fetal surgery. There were 45 respondents, of whom 35 attempt ed subsequent pregnancies. Thirty-two were successful, resulting in 31 live births. Two women had a strong prefetal surgery history of infertility, 1 h as only attempted to conceive for 3 months. We report this experience becau se the effect of open fetal surgery on future fertility is such an importan t question for our patients and referring physicians. This analysis suggest s that hysterotomy and open fetal surgery has a negligible impact on matern al fertility.