The Best Timing of IVF-ET after Laparoscopic Tubal Ligation for Patients with Hydrosalpinx

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) at different time intervals after laparoscopic tubal ligation on pregnancy outcomes. Methods The main outcome measures included: ovarian response index, laboratory index and clinical pregnancy outcome. The indicators were analyzed by univariate and multivariate-Logistic regression. Our study was a retrospective cohort study and 976 patients were included (Group 1: 0–3 months after ligation, N = 186, Group 2: 3–6 months after ligation, N = 438, Group 3: 6–12 months after ligation, N = 352). Results The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in group 1 were higher than those in group 2 and group 3 (61.36% vs. 52.89% vs. 56.61% for CPR, 53.79% vs. 43.93% vs. 47.93% for LBR, 76.34% vs. 69.41% vs. 65.91% for CLBR, P  < 0.05). In addition, the biochemical pregnancy abortion rate in group 1 was significantly lower (1.52% vs. 5.20% vs. 6.20%, P  < 0.05). In linear regression analysis, with the delay of IVF-ET treatment after ligation, the number of available D3 embryos, the rates of available blastocyst and high-quality blastocyst tended to decrease ( P  < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, the CPR and LBR in group 1 were significantly higher than those in group 3 (OR: 578, 95%CI: 0.384, 0.870 for CPR, OR: 643, 95%CI: 0.436, 0.950 for LBR, P  < 0.05). For elderly patients, the different time intervals did not affect pregnancy outcomes. For patients with DOR, the LBR in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 and group 3 (69.23% vs. 32.43% vs. 60.0%, P   0.05). Conclusions For patients with hydrosalpinx, IVF-ET treatment within 3 months after laparoscopic tubal ligation would result in more potential embryos and better pregnancy outcomes.