Pregnancy Outcome after Female Infertility in Kuwait: Comparison of Medical and Surgical Treatment

Abstract

During a 4-year period, 163 patients conceived after treatment of their infertility due solely to a female factor. They were divided into two groups, 108 patients treated medically (Group 1) and 55 treated surgically (Group 2). At the time of conception, the mean age in Group (1) was 24.9 +/- 5.7 years while in Group (2) it was 31.2 +/- 6.1 years. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). The duration of infertility prior to pregnancy and the treatment-to-pregnancy interval were both significantly longer in Group (2) (p less than 0.05). The rates of miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, and preterm labor were higher in Group (1), though the differences were statistically not significant. In contrast, the rate of ectopic pregnancy was significantly higher in Group (2) (p less than 0.05), as was the need for elective cesarean section (p less than 0.01). Despite these differences, both groups had nearly the same perinatal outcome.