What are the implications of myomas on fertility? A need for a debate?
In order to evaluate the relationship between leiomyomas and infertility, which remains a subject of debate, we have tried to evaluate the impact of myomas on fertility and pregnancy outcome in different conditions where myomas are implicated. Medline research was conducted of publications appearing between January 1988 and August 2001 on the subjects of myomas and myomectomy and their impact on fertility and pregnancy outcome in infertile women. A total of 106 manuscripts were consulted. The incidence of myomas in infertile women without any obvious cause of infertility is estimated to be 1-2.4%. The relationship between leiomyomas and infertility remains a subject of debate. The question is: do myomas influence fertility? We are obliged to conclude that the question remains. The absence of an answer to this crucial question is probably due to the fact that we have not yet conducted the appropriate prospective studies required to obtain any clear results.
Donnez
J
J
Department of Gynecology, Catholic University of Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. donnez@gyne.ucl.ac.be
Jadoul
P
P
D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery