Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
11:29
Surgical Techniques to Optimize Ovarian Reserve during Laparoscopic Cystectomy for Ovarian Endometrioma
Published on: January 22, 2022
Ovum transmigration after salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy.
Jackie A Ross1, Amelia Z Davison, Yasmin Sana
1Early Pregnancy and Gynaecology Assessment Unit, Suite 8, Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK. jackie.ross1@nhs.net
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|February 6, 2013
Summary
Approximately one-third of pregnancies following salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy result from ovulation contralateral to the remaining fallopian tube. This ovum transmigration occurs frequently and is unlikely to cause ectopic pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Gynecologic Surgery
- Clinical Obstetrics
Background:
- Corpus luteum contralateral to tubal ectopic pregnancies observed in 32% of cases.
- Contralateral ovum pick-up rate in intrauterine pregnancies was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of pregnancies resulting from ovum transmigration after salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy.
- To investigate the incidence of contralateral ovum pick-up in women with a history of unilateral salpingectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study analyzing clinical and ultrasound records from 1999-2010.
- Included 842 pregnancies in 707 women with prior unilateral salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy and subsequent spontaneous conception.
- Outcome measure: corpus luteum location relative to the remaining fallopian tube.
Main Results:
- The corpus luteum was contralateral to the remaining tube in 31.6% of pregnancies (266/842).
- No significant difference in contralateral corpus luteum presence between intrauterine (32.0%) and ectopic pregnancies (28.8%).
Conclusions:
- Around one-third of spontaneously conceived pregnancies occur via ovum pick-up from the ovary contralateral to the remaining tube after salpingectomy.
- Contralateral ovum pick-up is common and likely not a primary cause of ectopic pregnancy pathogenesis.
- Further research is needed to understand this phenomenon in women with intact fallopian tubes.
Related Concept Videos
01:57Meiosis II
Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each containing...
02:07Oogenesis
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
01:16Uterine Tubes
The uterine or fallopian tubes function as the conduit through which oocytes travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Each fallopian tube measures approximately 10 to 13 cm long and is anatomically divided into the infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and interstitial part (or intramural segment). The infundibulum is characterized by its funnel shape and features extensions called fimbriae which reach towards the peritoneal cavity. These fimbriae play a critical role during ovulation as they extend...
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a form of assisted reproductive technology where an egg is fertilized with sperm in a controlled laboratory environment before transferring the resulting embryo into the uterus. This process is designed to help individuals and couples experiencing difficulties conceiving.
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
01:27Ovarian Cycle
The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...