The Impact of Myomectomy on IVF Outcomes

In 2% to 3% infertility women, myoma is the only factor relevant to their infertility. However, the effects of intramural myoma on fertility are controversial. For infertile women with intramural myoma (types IV, V, VI of FIGO system) of 4 to 6 cm diameter, it is not clear whether myomectomy could improve pregnancy outcomes, especially in women undergoing ART. Besides, rigorous clinical research is needed to explore the changes and relevant biomarkers of endometrial receptivity through multi-omics study in patients undergoing myomectomy and ART treatment.

Method Intervention and follow-up: (1) For the control group, evaluation protocols such as salpingography and/or laparoscopic tubal fluxation should be implemented to identify disorders such as hydrosalpinx. (2) Imaging evaluation: all pelvic MRI were performed. Other options such as transvaginal ultrasound are not excluded, but won't replace MRI. Enhanced MRI or DWI may be considered, but are not always required. (3) Surgical intervention: laparoscopic myomectomy is preferred, and abdominal myomectomy is also acceptable. (4) IVF treatment: the IVF regimen should include detailed records of the downregulation plan, number of cycles, frozen or fresh blastocysts.

Study endpoints

(1) Primary study endpoint: Live birth rate after IVF. (2) Secondary study endpoints: Clinical pregnancy rate after IVF; Cumulative pregnancy rate after IVF; Biochemical pregnancy rate after IVF; Sustained pregnancy rate after IVF (≥20 weeks); Miscarriage rate after IVF; Cycles of IVF; Pregnancy-related complications; Perinatal maternal and neonatal complications. (3) Exploratory endpoints: The correlation between imaging index and assisted reproductive outcomes, including endometrial thickness, uterine volume, type of endometrial echo, uterine contraction; endometrial vascular index (VI), flow index (FI), tubular flow index (VFI); uterine artery pulsation index (PI), uterine artery resistance index (RI), systolic/diastolic blood pressure of uterine artery (S/D).

The correlation between endometrial receptivity and assisted reproductive outcomes is analyzed based on transcriptomics, metabolomics, methylation and proteomics in samples from peripheral blood, endometrial biopsy, endometrial exfoliated cells, cervical exfoliated cells and myoma.