Effects of leiomyomas less than 5 cm in diameter on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology

D. Oztekin, K. Sofuoglu, E. Caliskan, B. Kars, T. Cetinkaya, N. Tug

Abstract: To evaluate the effects of intramural and subserosal uterine leiomyomas with a diameter less than 5 cm, on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). A retrospective, cohort study conducted in a referral center. Patients with subserosal and /or intramural myomas less than 5 cm constituted the myoma group (n=152), while patients with tubal factor infertility without uterine myomas formed the control group (n=160). Only the patients undergoing their first cycle of ART were included in the study. After adjusting for age, the difference in implantation, the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates between the groups were no longer significant. Preterm delivery rate was comparable between the groups. As intramural and subserosal myomas less than 5 cm in diameter appeared to have no effect on the rates of clinical pregnancy and implantation following ART, myomectomy should not be offered routinely to patients with myomas less than 5 cm in size.
Keywords: assisted reproductive technology, infertility, leiomyoma, myomectomy