A previous caesarean section is not a risk factor for tubal abnormalities in the infertile population

Abstract

In this retrospective cohort study of 1716 cases of women undergoing infertility treatment between the years 1999–2012, we aimed to identify whether parturients with a previous surgical history are at a higher risk for tubal abnormalities as determined by hysterosalpingography (HSG) in this infertile population. Amongst the study population, tubal obstruction was identified on HSG in 15.8% of patients with no past history of an abdominal surgery and 16.3% of patients with a previous caesarean section (CS) delivery. These rates were significantly lower than those for women with a previous gynaecological surgery (34.7%) or abdominal surgery (27%) (p < .001 for all comparisons). Our results suggest that past history of CS poses no additional risk for tubal abnormality within the infertile population, whereas a history of other abdominal or gynaecological surgical procedures doubles this risk.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? While numerous risk factors for tubal factor infertility have been established, to date, the relation between previous abdominal surgeries and the risk for tubal factor infertility remains inconclusive.

• What the results of this study add? In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between previous CS history and the risk for having tubal factor infertility. Our results demonstrated that previous caesarean section delivery does not increase the risk for tubal factor infertility in the infertile population, whereas history of other abdominal or gynaecological surgical procedures doubles this risk.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further research is needed for further evaluation of this association and its clinical implications.

KEYWORDS:

• Hysterosalpingography
• caesarean section
• tubal obstruction
• infertility
• complications, abdominal surgery

Disclosure statement

None of the authors have conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

All fundings for this study were departmental.