Ovarian response to gonadotropins after laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy

To evaluate whether laparoscopic salpingectomy compromises ovarian response in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In a retrospective study in Changsha, China, data from 76 women who underwent ovarian stimulation before and after laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy were compared with those from 80 women who underwent 2 IVF cycles without surgical intervention between 2004 and 2009.

There were no differences in basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or estradiol (E(2)); length of stimulation; or numbers of follicles, retrieved and fertilized oocytes, or high-quality embryos between the cycles before and after salpingectomy; however, initial and total doses of gonadotropins were significantly increased after surgery (P<0.05). IVF parameters were also comparable between the 2 cycles among women without surgical intervention, except for a significant increase in initial and total doses of gonadotropins at the second cycle (P<0.05). IVF parameters did not differ between the cycle subsequent to salpingectomy and the second cycle in women without surgical intervention. There were no significant differences between patients with unilateral and those with bilateral salpingectomy, nor between the operated and non-operated ovary in the same individual.

Laparoscopic salpingectomy had no detrimental effect on ovarian response during IVF-embryo transfer treatment.