Effects of three different sterilization methods on utero-ovarian Doppler blood flow and serum levels of ovarian hormones.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess pre-operative and post-operative serum levels of ovarian hormones and changes in utero-ovarian arterial blood flow by Doppler ultrasonography in women in whom one of three different sterilization methods was applied.

Study Design: The Pomeroy method of tubal ligation, fimbriectomy, or laparoscopic bipolar coagulation were applied in 42 patients. Serum levels of sex hormones were checked, and utero-ovarian arterial Doppler measurements were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively. The presence or absence of dysmenorrhea was noted before and after the operations.

Results: We detected a significant increase in the average uterine arterial resistivity index (RI) and both ovarian arterial pulsatility index (PI) values in the Pomeroy method group (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in dysmenorrhea complaints in the total number of patients (p<0.05), particularly in the fimbriectomy group.

Conclusion: The significant increase in uterine arterial Doppler measurements with the Pomeroy method may be due to the removal of a larger tubal segment. Even though the increase is not statistically significant, fimbriectomy should not be applied in young women, because it may increase dysmenorrhea and the procedure is not reversible.