Pregnancies following ultrasound-guided drainage of tubo-ovarian abscess.

OBJECTIVE

To study fertility among women treated by means of ultrasound-guided drainage and antibiotics for tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

A tertiary referral center.

PATIENT(S): One hundred women of reproductive age treated for TOA between June 1986 and July 2003.

INTERVENTION(S): Transvaginal ultrasound-guided drainage of TOA was performed in all patients. The procedure was repeated if a substantial amount of pus was seen using ultrasonography 2-5 days after the initial aspiration, and repeated later if necessary.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Frequency of naturally conceived pregnancies.

RESULT(S): Twenty of 38 (52.6%; 95% CI 36.5-68.9%) women who intended to have a child achieved pregnancy naturally and became mothers. In addition, 7 (50%) of 14 women who were not on birth control on a regular basis became pregnant. No ectopic pregnancies were registered.

CONCLUSION(S): Ultrasound-guided drainage of TOA in combination with antibiotics seems to preserve fertility in approximately half of the patients.