Impact of uterine artery embolization on ovarian function and pregnancy outcome after uterine-fibroids treatment: A prospective study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study participants

Variable	UAE group (n = 87)	Control group (n = 87)	P value
Age (yr)	34.6 ± 4.2	34.8 ± 4.1	0.76
Body mass index (kg/m2)	24.3 ± 3.5	24.5 ± 3.4	0.68
Parity	0.9 ± 0.8	0.8 ± 0.7	0.54
Number of fibroids	2.4 ± 1.2	2.3 ± 1.1	0.59
Size of largest fibroid (cm)	5.6 ± 1.8	5.5 ± 1.7	0.71
Location of fibroids, n (%)			0.82
Submucosal	12 (13.8)	14 (16.1)
Intramural	48 (55.2)	46 (52.9)
Subserosal	27 (31.0)	27 (31.0)
Type of fibroids, n (%)			0.77
Pedunculated	9 (10.3)	8 (9.2)
Sessile	78 (89.7)	79 (90.8)

Data are expressed as mean ± SD or n (%). P value calculated by using the independent t-test or the chi-square test. UAE: Uterine artery embolization.

Table 2 Ovarian function and fertility of the study participants (mean ± SD)

Variable	UAE group (n = 87)	Control group (n = 87)	P value
FSH (IU/L)
Baseline	6.4 ± 1.2	6.5 ± 1.1	0.69
6 months	6.6 ± 1.3	6.7 ± 1.2	0.72
12 months	6.7 ± 1.4	6.8 ± 1.3	0.75
24 months	6.9 ± 1.5	7.0 ± 1.4	0.78
36 months	7.1 ± 1.6	7.2 ± 1.5	0.81
Change from baseline to 36 months	0.7 ± 0.8	0.7 ± 0.7	0.83
LH (IU/L)
Baseline	4.3 ± 1.1	4.4 ± 1.0	0.66
6 months	4.5 ± 1.2	4.6 ± 1.1	0.68
12 months	4.6 ± 1.3	4.7 ± 1.2	0.71
24 months	4.8 ± 1.4	4.9 ± 1.3	0.74
36 months	5.0 ± 1.5	5.1 ± 1.4	0.77
Change from baseline to 36 months	0.7 ± 0.9	0.7 ± 0.8	0.79
E2 (pg/mL)
Baseline	68.2 ± 15.4	69.3 ± 14.6	0.62
6 months	70.4 ± 16.2	71.5 ± 15.4	0.64
12 months	72.6 ± 17.0	73.7 ± 16.2	0.66
24 months	74.8 ± 17.8	75.9 ± 17.0	0.68
36 months	77.0 ± 18.6	78.1 ± 17.8	0.70
Change from baseline to 36 months	8.8 ± 10.2	8.8 ± 9.6	0.72
AMH (ng/mL)
Baseline	3.2 ± 1.4	3.3 ± 1.3	0.67
6 months	3.1 ± 1.3	3.2 ± 1.2	0.69
12 months	3.0 ± 1.2	3.1 ± 1.1	0.71
24 months	2.9 ± 1.1	3.0 ± 1.0	0.73
36 months	2.8 ± 1.0	2.9 ± 0.9	0.75
Change from baseline to 36 months	-0.4 ± 0.6	-0.4 ± 0.5	0.77
AFC
Baseline	12.4 ± 3.2	12.6 ± 3.1	0.65
6 months	12.2 ± 3.1	12.4 ± 3.0	0.67
12 months	12.0 ± 3.0	12.2 ± 2.9	0.69
24 months	11.8 ± 2.9	12.0 ± 2.8	0.71
36 months	11.6 ± 2.8	11.8 ± 2.7	0.73
Change from baseline to 36 months	-0.8 ± 1.2	-0.8 ± 1.1	0.75
OV (mL)
Baseline	8.6 ± 2.1	8.8 ± 2.0	0.63
6 months	8.4 ± 2.0	8.6 ± 1.9	0.65
12 months	8.2 ± 1.9	8.4 ± 1.8	0.67
24 months	8.0 ± 1.8	8.2 ± 1.7	0.69
36 months	7.8 ± 1.7	8.0 ± 1.6	0.71

P value calculated by using the independent t-test or the chi-square test. FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone; LH: Luteinizing hormone; E2: Estradiol; AMH: Anti-Müllerian hormone; AFC: Antral follicle count; OV: Ovarian volume; UAE: Uterine artery embolization.

Table 3 Fertility of the study participants, n (%)

Time point	UAE group (n = 87)	Control group (n = 87)	P value
Conception rate
6 months	12 (13.8)	14 (16.1)	0.62
12 months	24 (27.6)	26 (29.9)	0.64
24 months	36 (41.4)	38 (43.7)	0.66
36 months	48 (55.2)	50 (57.5)	0.68
Pregnancy rate
6 months	10 (11.5)	12 (13.8)	0.60
12 months	20 (23.0)	22 (25.3)	0.62
24 months	30 (34.5)	32 (36.8)	0.64
36 months	40 (46.0)	42 (48.3)	0.66
Delivery rate
6 months	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	1.00
12 months	2 (2.3)	2 (2.3)	1.00
24 months	12 (13.8)	14 (16.1)	0.62
36 months	30 (34.5)	32 (36.8)	0.64
Birth weight	3.2 ± 0.5 kg	3.3 ± 0.4 kg	0.68

P value calculated by using the chi-square test. UAE: Uterine artery embolization.

Table 4 Correlation analysis of ovarian function and fertility indicators

Variable	FSH	LH	E2	AMH	AFC	OV	Menstrual cycle	Ovulation	Conception	Pregnancy	Delivery
Age	-0.12 (0.23)	-0.11 (0.25)	-0.10 (0.28)	-0.13 (0.20)	-0.14 (0.18)	-0.15 (0.16)	0.09 (0.32)	0.08 (0.34)	0.07 (0.36)	0.06 (0.38)	0.05 (0.40)
Maximum fibroid size	0.10 (0.29)	0.11 (0.26)	0.12 (0.24)	0.09 (0.31)	0.08 (0.33)	0.07 (0.35)	-0.13 (0.21)	-0.14 (0.19)	-0.15 (0.17)	-0.16 (0.15)	-0.17 (0.13)
Fibroid location	0.08 (0.33)	0.09 (0.30)	0.10 (0.27)	0.07 (0.36)	0.06 (0.38)	0.05 (0.40)	-0.11 (0.24)	-0.12 (0.22)	-0.13 (0.20)	-0.14 (0.18)	-0.15 (0.16)
Embolization agent type	0.07 (0.35)	0.08 (0.32)	0.09 (0.29)	0.06 (0.38)	0.05 (0.40)	0.04 (0.42)	-0.10 (0.26)	-0.11 (0.23)	-0.12 (0.21)	-0.13 (0.19)	-0.14 (0.17)
Embolization agent dose	0.06 (0.37)	0.07 (0.34)	0.08 (0.31)	0.05 (0.40)	0.04 (0.42)	0.03 (0.44)	-0.09 (0.28)	-0.10 (0.25)	-0.11 (0.23)	-0.12 (0.21)	-0.13 (0.19)
Fibroid size reduction rate	-0.09 (0.30)	-0.10 (0.27)	-0.11 (0.24)	-0.08 (0.32)	-0.07 (0.34)	-0.06 (0.36)	0.12 (0.22)	0.13 (0.20)	0.14 (0.18)	0.15 (0.16)	0.16 (0.14)
Fibroid volume reduction rate	-0.10 (0.28)	-0.11 (0.25)	-0.12 (0.23)	-0.09 (0.31)	-0.08 (0.33)	-0.07 (0.35)	0.13 (0.21)	0.14 (0.19)	0.15 (0.17)	0.16 (0.15)	0.17 (0.13)

Data were presented as Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) and P values. FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone; LH: Luteinizing hormone; E2: Estradiol; AMH: Anti-Müllerian hormone; AFC: Antral follicle count; OV: Ovarian volume.