Fertility and pregnancy outcome following myomectomy among women attending fertility clinic in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objectives: With more women starting their families in the third and fourth decade, the role of fibroid as a possible cause of infertility becomes more relevant. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of myomectomy on women with infertility, and in which fibroid is the only identifiable cause. The study also examined the outcome of pregnancies following myomectomy.

Methods: This was a prospective descriptive work, carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Eku Baptist Government Hospital from January 2011 to December 2014. A total of 56 women who met the selection criteria and who had had abdominal myomectomy following fertility workup were followed up for 2 years and their fertility/pregnancy outcome was analysed. Telephone contact of the patients and their spouses was a useful tool in the follow-up of these patients

Result: During the 2 years following myomectomy, 32 (57%) women achieved pregnancy; one patient achieved pregnancy 2 months following myomectomy, while 31 achieved pregnancy within 3-24 months following surgery. 24(43%) of the patients did not achieve conception during the two year follow-up period.

Of the 32 patients that achieved pregnancy, 2 had spontaneous miscarriages in the first trimester. The remaining 30 patients had full term deliveries except for one patient that had preterm delivery at 36 weeks. Live birth rate of 94% was recorded. Eighty three percent of the 30 women had Caesarean delivery

Conclusion: Fertility and pregnancy outcome following abdominal myomectomy is satisfactory. Early sexual exposure following myomectomy should therefore be encouraged

Keywords: infertility, Fibroid, leiomyoma, myomectomy, pregnancies