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Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in 556 pregnancies after in vitro fertilization: implications for preventive
J B Dubuisson1, F X Aubriot, L Mathieu
1Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Clinique Universitaire Port-Royal, Paris, France.
Objective:
To analyze risk factors for ectopic pregnancy (EP) after in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Design:
A retrospective study of IVF pregnancies was performed between November 1983 and December 1989.
Setting:
This study was conducted in a tertiary care center, the Port-Royal University Hospital.
Patients:
Patients' records were reviewed for 48 EP and 508 intrauterine pregnancies obtained by IVF.
Interventions:
Forty-six salpingectomies were performed for EP after IVF.
Main Outcome Measure:
We evaluated the impact on the ectopic rate of tubal status, the type of ovarian stimulation and luteal phase support, and the number of embryos transferred.
Results:
Forty-three of 48 EP occurred in patients with tubal infertility. The rate of EP was significantly higher when the indication was tubal (11.1%) than when it was endometriosis (2.1%) or unexplained infertility (3.4%). Pathological findings revealed tubal lesions in all 46 salpingectomies.
Conclusions:
Ectopic pregnancy after IVF appears related to pre-existing tubal pathology. However, routine prophylactic salpingectomy to prevent the risk of EP does not appear justified.