Assessment of Tubal Occlusion During Minimally Invasive Myomectomy

Plain-language summary

This study uses a procedure called chromopertubation to look at how fibroids and fibroid surgery affect the fallopian tubes. Specifically, this study will test if the fallopian tubes are occluded or patent (open) before and after surgically removing fibroids. Chromopertubation is a commonly performed and well-established procedure that is done during laparoscopic surgery to determine if the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. It includes inserting a dilute solution of saline with a small amount of medical-grade blue dye (called methylene blue) into the uterine cavity to see if it spills out of the fallopian tubes. Chromopertubation is considered a safe procedure - the main risk is an allergic reaction to the dye, which is very rare. The minimum amount of methylene blue dye will be used to further reduce risks of a reaction. Open fallopian tubes are necessary to become pregnant without the use of IVF. While it is known that some conditions can affect the functioning of the fallopian tubes, there is a lack of research about how fibroids affect the tubes. It is also not known how much about how the process of removing fibroids may affect the fallopian tubes. The investigators hypothesize that tubal occlusion will be observed in patients with fibroids and that the frequency of tubal occlusion will change after myomectomy compared to pre-myomectomy. This study will be conducted entirely during planned surgery for laparoscopic myomectomy. Chromopertubation will be performed at the beginning and again at the end of the surgery. This is expected to take less than 10 minutes in total. The results of the chromopertubation as well as background medical information will be recorded and the characteristics of the fibroids (size, number, and location) will be compared to the presence or abscence of tubal occlusion as determined by chromopertubation.

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