BACKGROUND & AIMS: Women with ulcerative colitis generally have normal fertility. The aim of this study was to compare patients' fecundability before and after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with the fecundability of the general population. METHODS: Historical follow-up was performed on 343 consecutive female patients aged 10.6-40.5 years at surgery and a reference population of 1200 women aged 25-40 years. A total of 290 (85%) patients and 661 (55%) women in the reference population agreed to participate in a structured telephone interview concerning reproductive behavior and waiting times to pregnancy. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier plots were used for analysis. RESULTS: Surgery significantly reduced the ratio of patient to reference population fecundability, which decreased to 0.20 (P < 0.0001). Before diagnosis and from diagnosis until colectomy, the fecundability of the patients was similar to that of the reference population. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients with ulcerative colitis have normal fecundity before surgical treatment. Surgery severely reduces female fecundity. Information about this reduction in fecundity should be given before surgery, and if a woman has an unfulfilled wish for pregnancy after surgery, early referral to a gynecologist is recommended.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Women with ulcerative colitis generally have normal fertility. The aim of this study was to compare patients' fecundability before and after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with the fecundability of the general population. METHODS: Historical follow-up was performed on 343 consecutive female patients aged 10.6-40.5 years at surgery and a reference population of 1200 women aged 25-40 years. A total of 290 (85%) patients and 661 (55%) women in the reference population agreed to participate in a structured telephone interview concerning reproductive behavior and waiting times to pregnancy. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier plots were used for analysis. RESULTS: Surgery significantly reduced the ratio of patient to reference population fecundability, which decreased to 0.20 (P < 0.0001). Before diagnosis and from diagnosis until colectomy, the fecundability of the patients was similar to that of the reference population. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients with ulcerative colitis have normal fecundity before surgical treatment. Surgery severely reduces female fecundity. Information about this reduction in fecundity should be given before surgery, and if a woman has an unfulfilled wish for pregnancy after surgery, early referral to a gynecologist is recommended.
Authors: Nicolás A Rotholtz; María L Aued; Sandra M Lencinas; Gerardo Zanoni; Mariano Laporte; Maximiliano Bun; Luis Boerr; Norberto A Mezzadri Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2007-11-20 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: R Caprilli; M A Gassull; J C Escher; G Moser; P Munkholm; A Forbes; D W Hommes; H Lochs; E Angelucci; A Cocco; B Vucelic; H Hildebrand; S Kolacek; L Riis; M Lukas; R de Franchis; M Hamilton; G Jantschek; P Michetti; C O'Morain; M M Anwar; J L Freitas; I A Mouzas; F Baert; R Mitchell; C J Hawkey Journal: Gut Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 23.059