Association Between Fallopian Tube Length and Genital Endometriosis in Infertile Patients Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Information about the prevalence of fallopian tube pathology in the early stages of endometriosis is scarce. The aim of our study was to examine the association between genital endometriosis and the lengths of fallopian tubes in infertile women. Settings and Design: retrospective cohort study. Methods: We studied 651 infertile patients in the 20-40 year age group, who visited a Reproductive Clinic for treatment between 2012-2018. After laparoscopy, endometriosis (detected by histomorphology) was indicated in 472 cases and absent in 179 cases. The length of the fallopian tubes was estimated in 193 primary infertile women with endometriosis. We excluded patients from the study who had surgical intervention on their tubes. Appearance of tubes and fimbriae was assessed in 177 patients without endometriosis and in 461 patients with endometriosis. Results: The proportion of women with shorter (<8 cm) right and left fallopian tubes was significantly greater in those with endometriosis. Conversely, the proportion of women with longer (>12 cm) left fallopian tubes was significantly higher in the group of patients without endometriosis. Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations of endometriosis with: a short (<8 cm) right fallopian tube-r = -0.504** (p < 0.001); Significant negative correlations of endometriosis were with: a medium (8-12 cm) length right fallopian tube-r = -0.639** (p < 0.001); a long (>12 cm) left fallopian tube-r = -0.596** (p < 0.001); Conclusions: Infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis have been shown to have anatomical and structural changes in the fallopian tubes and fimbriae compared to those without endometriosis. The presence of genital endometriosis (I;II stage) maybe associated with shorter fallopian tubes.

Automated summary

The study found that there is an association between endometriosis and the length of fallopian tubes in infertile women. Women with endometriosis tend to have shorter tubes, while those without endometriosis have longer tubes.