OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of salpingectomy on ovarian function.

METHODSFifty-four women with previous unilateral salpingectomy and 64 with bilateral salpingectomy (study groups) and 59 infertile patients with obstruction of fallopian tube (control group) received in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment. The baseline levels of serum FSH, LH, E2, PRL, ovarian response to superovulation and outcome of IVF-ET among the three groups were compared.

RESULTThere were no significant differences in the baseline endocrine levels among three groups. There were more ampules and days of gonadotropin (Gn) administration, fewer oocytes retrieved in bilateral salpingectomy group than in control group (P <0.05). The duration of Gn administration of unilateral salpingectomy group was significantly longer than that of control group (P <0.05). The number of oocytes retrieved and the total ampules of Gn administration in unilateral salpingectomy group were not different with those of bilateral salpingectomy group and control group (P >0.05). Among the patients with the history of unilateral salpingectomy, significantly fewer oocytes were retrieved from the ovary on the operated side (P <0.05). There were no significant difference in the fertilization rates, cleavage rates, good-embryo rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rates and good-embryo number among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSalpingectomy has no obvious effect on the outcome of IVF-ET and baseline endocrine within a period of time, but it reduces the ovarian response to superovulation on ipsilateral ovary in IVF-ET.