Laparoscopy should be strongly considered for women with unexplained infertility

Koji Nakagawa, Nakagawa K, Shirei Ohgi, Ohgi S, Takashi Horikawa, Horikawa T, Kojima R, Rieko Kojima, Megumu Ito, Ito M, Saito H, Hidekazu Saito
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research · 2007 · vol. 33(5) , pp. 665–670 · doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2007.00629.x · PMID:17845327 · W2085057942
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Laparoscopy revealed abnormalities in 87.2% of unexplained infertility patients and resulted in a 48.9% pregnancy rate, with higher rates in younger women compared to ART.

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Abstract

AIM: Women with unexplained infertility frequently become pregnant after diagnostic laparoscopy. In this study the effect of laparoscopic surgery on such women was evaluated by the pregnancy rate after laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: A total of 47 unexplained infertile women underwent laparoscopic evaluation during the period August 2002 to January 2005 in our center. The percentage of positive laparoscopic findings and the pregnancy rate after laparoscopy were calculated. The patients were divided into 5 subgroups according to maternal age, pregnancy rates were calculated for each group, and compared with the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment for the same age groups. RESULTS: In 87.2% of the women, laparoscopy revealed abnormal findings; endometriosis lesions, peritubal adhesions and tubal obstructions were found in 21, 17 and 3 cases, respectively. After laparoscopy 23 achieved pregnancy (pregnancy rate: 48.9%). The pregnancy rates of the groups at the age of 25 years old or less, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40 and over 41 years old were 100%, 75.0%, 45.5%, 27.2% and 0%, respectively. In the case of the 26-30 years old group, the pregnancy rate after laparoscopy was significantly higher than that in the ART treatment group (33.3%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy should be strongly considered for examining women with unexplained infertility.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Infertility, Female Adult Female Fertilization in Vitro Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Female Genital Diseases, Female Gynecologic Surgical Procedures Gynecologic Surgical Procedures Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Laparoscopy Laparoscopy Male Pregnancy

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