Spontaneous Pregnancy after Total Bilateral Salpingectomy: A Systematic Review of Literature

To assess the occurrence of spontaneous pregnancy after a history of total bilateral salpingectomy (BS).

A systematic search was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, searching MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science from database inception to February 20, 2020.

We included women with a history of total BS for any indication with subsequent spontaneous pregnancy. Excluded were women who had a history of incomplete/partial salpingectomy or tubal occlusion, who had pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology, and whose pregnancy was not appropriately confirmed via beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin or ultrasound.

The systematic search retrieved 1942 articles; 39 studies were potentially eligible, and their full texts were reviewed. A total of 4 case reports were included. Total BS had been performed for other indications than permanent contraception in all cases. Pain was the most common presenting symptom. All 4 pregnancies were intrauterine in location. Treatment was based on desire to continue pregnancy and hemodynamic stability.

Spontaneous pregnancy after total BS is exceedingly rare. The present data suggest that it is reassuring to offer total BS as a form of permanent contraception. Prospective data are warranted to ascertain short- and long-term effects of total BS for permanent contraception including its efficacy.