title: Effects of unilateral ovariectomy on female fertility outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the fertility outcome among women subjected to unilateral ovariectomy and other abdominal or non-gynaecologic pelvic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, 113 fertile women, surgically treated between 1990 and 2001 at Sapienza University of Rome with unilateral ovariectomy (UO), appendectomy (AP) or cholecystectomy (CO) for benign disease, were analysed for fertility outcome. Patients with assessed pre-surgical fertility defects, previous abdominal or pelvic surgeries and post-surgical contraception were not included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five women underwent UO, 39 were subjected to AP and 39 were treated with CO. After a minimum 10-year post-surgical interval, the overall number of successful pregnancies was 75. The rate of women who experienced at least one post-operative successful pregnancy was: 48.5 % in UO, 41 % in AP and 53.8 % in CO (UO vs. AP, P = 0.55; UO vs. CO, P = 0.99; AP vs. CO, P = 0.53). One patient (2.8 %) in UO, one patient (2.6 %) in AP and two patients (5.1 %) in CO underwent Assisted Reproductive Technology to become pregnant. The rate of women who reported at least one miscarriage was: 10/35 (28.5 %) in UO, 11/39 (28.2 %) in AP, 12/39 (30.8 %) in CO (UO vs. AP, P = 0.93; UO vs. CO, P = 0.89; AP vs. CO, P = 0.81). One ectopic pregnancy was reported in CO group and one stillbirth occurred in one AP patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No statistical difference in terms of post-operative fertility outcome between patients subjected to UO, AP or CO was found, thus allowing to suppose that the removal of one ovary does not significantly worsen the female fertility outcome respect to other abdominal or pelvic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Urology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellati
authors.forename: Ilary
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruscito
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gasparri
authors.forename: Morena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonilli
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pernice
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morano
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chirletti
authors.forename: Pasquale B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Berloco
authors.forename: Pierluigi Benedetti
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Panici
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001723:Birth Rate; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000453:epidemiology; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome