Adhesion formation and reproductive outcome after myomectomy and second-look laparoscopy

To evaluate adhesion formation after myomectomy and the reproductive outcome of infertile women with a large leiomyomatous uterus after myomectomy and second-look laparoscopy.

Twenty-six infertile women with a large leiomyomatous uterus underwent second-look laparoscopy 6 weeks after a myomectomy. At laparoscopy, the degree of adhesions was scored using the American Fertility Society classification of adnexal adhesions, and the adhesions were lysed. The pregnancy rates of these women were evaluated by life table analysis.

A myomectomy incision on the posterior wall of the uterus was associated with more adnexal adhesions than that on the fundus or anterior uterine wall (93.7 versus 55.5%; P = .04). The degree of adnexal adhesions was also higher among women who underwent myomectomy with a posterior uterine incision (22.2 +/- 2.3 points) than in those with a fundal or anterior uterine incision (2.7 +/- 1.2 points) (P < .000001). The cumulative pregnancy rate was 33.4% at 6 months and 66.7% at 12 months after the procedures.

Myomectomy incisions on the posterior uterine wall are associated with more and a higher degree of adnexal adhesions than those on the fundus and anterior wall. Conception occurs in the majority of infertile women with a large myomatous uterus who undergo myomectomy and second-look laparoscopy.