Hysteroscopic myomectomy: long-term effects on menstrual pattern and fertility

To determine the effects of hysteroscopic myomectomy on menorrhagia and infertility and the influence of intramural extension on surgical feasibility and long-term outcomes.

We studied 108 women who had first-line hysteroscopic resection of submucous pedunculated (n = 54), sessile (n = 30), or intramural (n = 24) leiomyomas over 7 years at an academic department specializing in endoscopic surgery.

The mean (+/- standard deviation) operating time and distension medium deficit were 18+/-7 minutes and 204+/-276 mL in the pedunculated lesion group, 23+/-9 minutes and 278+/-269 mL in the sessile lesion group, and 32+/-8 minutes and 335+/-272 mL in the intramural lesion group, respectively. More than one procedure was required to complete myoma removal in 14 (26%) of 54, eight (26%) of 30, and 12 (50%) of 24 subjects in the pedunculated, sessile, and intramural lesion groups, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 41 months, myomas recurred in 27 subjects, with a 3-year cumulative rate of 34%. Twenty women had recurrent menorrhagia, with a 3-year cumulative probability of 30%. The 3-year cumulative probability of conception was 49% in women with pedunculated lesions, 36% in those with sessile lesions, and 33% in those with intramural lesions. The study had 80% power to detect five- and three-fold increases in menorrhagia recurrence and conception rates, respectively, in the mainly intramural myoma group compared with the completely or mainly intracavitary myoma group.

Hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomas gives satisfactory menorrhagia control and limited recurrence, but the benefit for infertility was less impressive. Myoma intramural extension did not have a substantial influence on any of the long-term outcomes but affected operating time and the number of procedures needed for complete removal.