In vitro fertilization with concurrent pelvic reconstructive surgery

The recent advent of ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration by various approaches now allows access to ovaries previously deemed inaccessible by laparoscopy; however, a small group of candidates for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) require laparotomy for associated gynecologic disorders. Twenty-five IVF-ET cycles at the time of laparotomy were compared with 309 IVF-ET cycles in which oocytes were retrieved laparoscopically. Five pregnancies occurred in the IVF-ET cycle with laparotomy and one pregnancy occurred spontaneously following microsurgical tubal reconstruction. The pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 25% in the laparotomy IVF-ET patients compared with 15.4% for the laparoscopy IVF-ET group. Obvious advantages of combining IVF-ET and pelvic reconstructive surgery include a single anesthesia exposure and economic benefits. Patients with a long history of infertility undergoing tubal reconstructive surgery may be offered combined IVF-ET. Extended anesthesia exposure with pelvic surgery demonstrated no adverse effects on the pregnancy rate.