title: Fertility after embolization of the uterine arteries to treat obstetrical hemorrhage: a review of 53 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study subsequent fertility of patients who underwent embolization of the uterine arteries to treat postpartum hemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study between January 2000 and June 2006 with two patient groups: exposed and nonexposed to embolization for postpartum hemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 3 maternity unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients exposed to embolization and 106 nonexposed patients were included and paired according to several criteria: date of delivery, age, parity, whether the pregnancy was spontaneous or with fertility assistance, and mode of delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Occurence of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among patients exposed to embolization, 14 had been exposed to pregnancy and 12 had been pregnant. There was no statistically significant difference of occurrence of pregnancy between the nonembolized and embolized groups (P=.30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results, it seems that embolization does not alter subsequent fertility. This study nevertheless suggests a trend toward fewer pregnancies in the embolization group and reports three severe complications in that group. This trend deserves to be explored by further studies with higher statistical power. However, even if it would be difficult to provide complete reassurance to patients who have undergone embolization, better information regarding their subsequent fertility and potential risks could relieve them of their worries regarding a new pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Mère-Enfant, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Limoges, Limoges, France. shardeman@aliceadsl.fr
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hardeman
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decroisette
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincelot
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aubard
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pouquet
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maubon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult