Fertilty outcome in women after open abdominal myomectomy at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Myomectomy is the surgical treatment of choice for uterine fibroids especially in women desirous of conception. There are controversies regarding fertility outcome following open abdominal myomectomy.

Objective: To assess fertility outcome after open abdominal myomectomy in women with previous infertility.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Subjects: Women who wished to conceive after open abdominal myomectomy and had only subserous and/or intramural fibroids at surgery.

Results: Over the five-year period under review, there were 301 abdominal myomectomies performed. One hundred and twenty case notes were retrieved giving a retrieval rate of 39.9%. Of these, 50 met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 33.3 ± 3.2 years (range 27- 42 years). Pregnancy and miscarriage rates were 88% and 9.1% respectively. Live birth rate was 84.1%. Most (95.5%) of the patients conceived spontaneously after the procedure. Caesarean section was the common (84%) mode of delivery.

Conclusion: Fertility and live birth rates improved after open abdominal myomectomy.