Effect of Non-Cavity Distorting Intramural Fibroids on Assisted Reproduction Outcomes: A Cohort Study

Abstract

Introduction The impact of uterine fibroids on fertility and the beneficial role of surgery is controversial. Current data suggest that submucosal and intramural fibroids that distort the endometrial cavity decrease pregnancy and implantation rates. However, the impact of intramural fibroids without intracavitary component is unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify the impact of the uterine myomas and myomectomy in patients undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Methods Retrospective cohort study performed in Instituto Universitario Dexeus including 1072 cycles of IVF performed in infertile patients: 473 in patients with uterine myomas not treated before ART, 79 in patients undergoing ART after myomectomy and 520 in patients included as a control group. Results Our results show that there is a significant 64% reduction in the clinical pregnancy rate in women with cavity-distorting intramural fibroids, a 51% significant reduction in the clinical pregnancy rate and a 53% significant reduction in the delivery rate in patients with non-distorting intramural fibroids. Conclusions Our study supports the opinion that non-cavity distorting intramural fibroids have a detrimental effect on live births, clinical pregnancy, implantation and delivery rates in patients undergoing ART.