title: The effect of fibroids without cavity involvement on ART outcomes independent of ovarian age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of fibroids that do not distort the endometrial cavity on pregnancy rate (PR) and implantation rate (IR) is controversial. Use of oocyte donor-derived embryos offers an ideal patient population to study the effect of fibroids in patients utilizing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing oocyte donor recipient (ODR) IVF cycles at two tertiary care fertility centres. We examined medical records for the presence of non-cavity-distorting fibroids and evaluated subsequent PR and IR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and sixty-nine patients, 94 with fibroids, underwent oocyte donor recipient transfer cycles with fresh embryos. There was no statistical difference in IR (36 versus 38%) or clinical PR (47 versus 54%) between patients with or without fibroids. Neither the location (subserosal versus intramural) and the presence of multiple myomas nor the size of the myomas affected outcomes. Fibroids were more likely to be present in patients with increasing recipient age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical PR and IR are not affected by the presence of non-cavity-distorting leiomyomata. This evidence does not support myomectomy before ART in patients with asymptomatic fibroids that do not significantly distort the endometrial cavity or cause abnormal uterine bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. klatskyp@ucsf.obgyn.edu
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Klatsky
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: V Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*