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Effects of unilateral ovariectomy on female fertility outcome

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the fertility outcome among women subjected to unilateral ovariectomy and other abdominal or non-gynaecologic pelvic surgery.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 113 fertile women, surgically treated between 1990 and 2001 at Sapienza University of Rome with unilateral ovariectomy (UO), appendectomy (AP) or cholecystectomy (CO) for benign disease, were analysed for fertility outcome. Patients with assessed pre-surgical fertility defects, previous abdominal or pelvic surgeries and post-surgical contraception were not included.

Results

Thirty-five women underwent UO, 39 were subjected to AP and 39 were treated with CO. After a minimum 10-year post-surgical interval, the overall number of successful pregnancies was 75. The rate of women who experienced at least one post-operative successful pregnancy was: 48.5 % in UO, 41 % in AP and 53.8 % in CO (UO vs. AP, P = 0.55; UO vs. CO, P = 0.99; AP vs. CO, P = 0.53). One patient (2.8 %) in UO, one patient (2.6 %) in AP and two patients (5.1 %) in CO underwent Assisted Reproductive Technology to become pregnant. The rate of women who reported at least one miscarriage was: 10/35 (28.5 %) in UO, 11/39 (28.2 %) in AP, 12/39 (30.8 %) in CO (UO vs. AP, P = 0.93; UO vs. CO, P = 0.89; AP vs. CO, P = 0.81). One ectopic pregnancy was reported in CO group and one stillbirth occurred in one AP patient.

Conclusions

No statistical difference in terms of post-operative fertility outcome between patients subjected to UO, AP or CO was found, thus allowing to suppose that the removal of one ovary does not significantly worsen the female fertility outcome respect to other abdominal or pelvic procedures.

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The author(s) report(s) no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Filippo Bellati, Ilary Ruscito, Maria Luisa Gasparri, Morena Antonilli, Milena Pernice, Cristina Vallone, Giuseppina Morano & Pierluigi Benedetti Panici

  2. Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Piero Chirletti

  3. Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Pasquale B. Berloco

Authors
  1. Filippo Bellati
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  2. Ilary Ruscito
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  3. Maria Luisa Gasparri
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  4. Morena Antonilli
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  5. Milena Pernice
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  6. Cristina Vallone
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  7. Giuseppina Morano
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  8. Piero Chirletti
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  9. Pasquale B. Berloco
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  10. Pierluigi Benedetti Panici
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilary Ruscito.

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Bellati, F., Ruscito, I., Gasparri, M.L. et al. Effects of unilateral ovariectomy on female fertility outcome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 290, 349–353 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3194-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3194-8

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