Association between ovarian maldescent and infertility: a prospective cohort study

Ovarian maldescent is a rare congenital anomaly in which one or both ovaries are positioned abnormally above the pelvic brim. However, the potential relationship between ovarian maldescent and infertility remains poorly understood.

To determine the potential relationship between ovarian maldescent and infertility.

This single-center, prospective cohort study included women who were diagnosed with ovarian maldescent (unilateral or bilateral) on the basis of laparoscopic findings and were assigned to the experimental group. A control group was established by randomly matching women with infertility due to tubal, ovarian, or uterine factors. Both groups were followed up for one year to assess postoperative pregnancy outcomes and the duration of preparation (DOP) for conception.

A total of 21 patients were included in the ovarian maldescent group, and 42 patients were included in the control group. The non-in vitro fertilization (non-IVF) pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the control group (P = 0.005). The median DOP for conception in the ovarian maldescent group was significantly longer than controls (7 months vs. 3 months, HR = 2.927, 95% CI: 1.390, 6.165; P = 0.005). However, among those who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF), there was no significant difference in pregnancy rates between the two groups.

Compared to women with other infertility risk factors, those diagnosed with ovarian maldescent demonstrated a longer conception time and a lower non-IVF pregnancy rate, suggesting that ovarian maldescent per se is an independent contributor to female infertility.