Time to conceive after myomectomy: should we advise a minimum time interval? A systematic review

The optimal time interval between myomectomy and pregnancy is unclear and no specific guidelines exist. The aim of this review was to study the time interval from myomectomy to pregnancy and the occurrence of uterine rupture after myomectomy. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies and retrospective studies were used to assess the primary objective, and case reports, cases series or letters to the editor for the secondary objective. Only articles reporting myomectomy performed via the vaginal route, laparotomy, laparoscopy or robot-assisted surgery were selected for inclusion. Among 3852 women who wanted to become pregnant after the surgery, 2889 became pregnant, accounting for 3000 pregnancies (77.9%) and 2097 live births (54.4%). Mean time between myomectomy and pregnancy was estimated at 17.6 months (SD 9.2) for 2451 pregnant women. Among 1016 women, a third were advised to delay attempting to conceive for between 3 and 6 months and another third for between 6 and 12 months. A total of 70 spontaneous uterine ruptures with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks at occurrence were identified. No linear relationship was found between gestational age at the event and time interval from myomectomy to conception (P = 0.706). There are insufficient data to advise a minimal time interval between myomectomy and conception.

Pregnancy Outcomes and Risk Factors for Uterine Rupture After Laparoscopic Myomectomy: A Single-Center Experience and Literature Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after laparoscopic myomectomy (LSM), focusing on the risk of uterine rupture.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification III).

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

Of 676 women who visited the obstetrics department for a pregnancy after undergoing LSM performed at the same center between 1994 and 2012, we included the 523 women who had follow-up through the end of pregnancy.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients underwent LSM, and their medical charts were retrospectively reviewed.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Multiple myomas were removed in 35.2% of cases, intramural-type lesions occurred in 46.5% of cases, and the mean myoma diameter was 4.9 cm. Pregnancy outcomes after LSM included 400 (76.5%) full-term deliveries and 100 (19.1%) vaginal deliveries, with other adverse outcomes being no different than the general population. The mean interval between LSM and pregnancy was 14 months, and only 3 (0.6%) cases of uterine rupture occurred during pregnancy. In analysis, by reviewing the published cases of uterine rupture, we found that the mean diameter, myoma number and type, and the rate of uterine suture were similar between the ruptured cases and all of our cases of LSM.

CONCLUSION

LSM can be safely used in women of reproductive age who want to become pregnant. Uterine rupture occurs in rare cases, regardless of myoma features, but further large-scale studies are required to ascertain the detailed effects of various surgical techniques.

Pregnancy and delivery after laparoscopic myomectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the factors influencing pregnancy outcome and evaluate vaginal birth after laparoscopic myomectomy (VBALM).

DESIGN

Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred eight patients who wanted a child after laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and a follow-up of at least 6 months.

INTERVENTION

Laparoscopic myomectomy.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Forty-seven pregnancies occurred in 40 patients. As for the factors considered to contribute to pregnancy after LM, COX regression analysis showed that pregnancy after LM correlated positively with the diameter of the largest myoma (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10, p = .004) and negatively with the age of the patient at the time of LM (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.98, p = .02) and the number of enucleated myomas (OR l.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.37, p=0.04). Vaginal birth after LM was managed in accordance with the standard management of vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) in our hospital. Delivery after LM was accomplished in 32 pregnancies. Vaginal birth after laparoscopic myomectomy was attempted in 23 pregnancies (71.9%) and vaginal birth successful in 19 (82.6%) of these 23 pregnancies. Vaginal birth after LM was unsuccessful in four patients, as labor did not occur during more than 2 weeks after the expected date of delivery in two patients, and cesarean section was performed to prevent fetal asphyxia during the course of delivery in two patients. In the 18 patients (19 pregnancies) with successful VBALM, the diameter of the largest myoma at LM was 68.7 +/- 18.4 mm, the number of enucleated myomas was 2.9 +/- 2.1, and the number of hysterotomies was 2.5 +/- 1.8. As for the depth of the largest myoma, this was intramural in 12 patients, submucosal in 2 patients and subserosal in 4 patients. None of the patients, regardless of whether they had a successful VBALM or not, suffered uterine rupture during or after delivery.

CONCLUSION

Since nearly complete suturing is possible in LM as in laparotomy, vaginal delivery can be accomplished safely without uterine rupture even after LM, provided that delivery is managed as in VBAC.