Impact of pelvic arterial embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage on fertility.
OBJECTIVE
This study was to determine the long-term outcomes of arterial pelvic embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage and particularly its effect on menses, fertility, and outcomes of subsequent pregnancies.


METHODS
Fifty-six consecutive patients who underwent emergency pelvic arterial embolization for severe postpartum hemorrhage between April 1995 and July 2005 were included in the study. Patients were contacted to obtain information about menses and fertility after pelvic arterial embolization.


RESULTS
Thirty-four women (61.8%) were successfully contacted. One patient had a hysterectomy. Thirty women (91%) reported regular menses. Thirteen women (38.3%) had a total of 20 spontaneous pregnancies. Eight pregnancies ended during the first trimester. The 12 other pregnancies (60%) were all normal and all patients delivered vaginally healthy babies with normal weight for gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study suggests that fertility is not adversely affected by arterial pelvic embolization for intractable postpartum hemorrhage and that women can conceive after the procedure with normal pregnancy outcomes.
Fiori
Olivia
O
University of Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6, Paris, France.
Deux
Jean-François
JF
Kambale
Jean-Claude
JC
Uzan
Serge
S
Bougdhene
Franck
F
Berkane
Nadia
N
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult