Transient ovarian failure: a complication of uterine artery embolization

Objective: To report a case of transient ovarian failure shortly after arte rial embolization for treatment of uterine fibroids, followed by recovery o f ovarian function. Design: Case report. Setting: A university-based hospital. Patient(s): A 49-year-old woman with menorrhagia and anemia secondary to ut erine fibroids and refractory to medical management. The follicle-stimulati ng hormone (FSH) level on cycle day 3 before the procedure was 8.2 mIU/mL. Intervention(s): Bilateral uterine artery embolization for treatment of men orrhagia. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum FSH level. Result(s): The patient developed amenorrhea and hot flashes 3 months after uterine artery embolization. Her serum FSH level at that time was 140.1 mIU /mL. Four months later, uterine bleeding resumed; her serum FSH level was 2 .1 mIU/mL. Conclusion(s): Uterine artery embolization may hasten ovarian failure. This procedure should be reserved for women who have completed their child-bear ing or are poor candidates for myomectomy. Patients should be counseled app ropriately about the risk of possible ovarian failure. (C)2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.