Determinants of reproductive prognosis after ectopic pregnancy

The reproductive prognosis of 115 women desiring pregnancy who underwent surgery for ectopic pregnancy between 1985 and 1990 at the Clinica Luigi Mangiagalli, was analysed after a median follow-up period of 26 months (range 2-83). Probability of reproductive events was assessed by a product-limit model. Women who underwent surgery for ectopic pregnancy had a 54% probability of becoming pregnant (cumulative pregnancy rate, CPR), and a 36% probability of giving birth to a child (cumulative livebirth rate, CLB) during the 3 years after surgery. These percentages dropped with history of previous ectopic pregnancy (respectively 33%, P = 0.07, and 7%, P < 0.05). Increasing age at surgery and presence of adhesions in the contra-lateral tube seemed to be associated with poor reproductive prognosis (CPR = 40% and CLB = 12% for women aged > or = 35 years and CPR = 37% and CLB = 20% in women with adhesions in the contralateral tube), but these findings were not statistically significant. No association emerged between fertility and parity or type of surgery. The recurrence rate of ectopic pregnancy was 20%. No significant association emerged between recurrence of ectopic pregnancy and age, history of previous pregnancy, history of previous ectopic pregnancy, non-intact contra-lateral tube and salpingotomy.