Use of a single dose of the drug methotrexate to treat ectopic pregnancy does not appear to curb a woman's fertility, according to Spanish researchers.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilised egg is implanted outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. These pregnancies can result in bleeding and death if the embryo is not removed, either surgically or with drug therapy.
To see whether methotrexate therapy for ectopic pregnancy impairs future fertility, researchers measured blood levels of a protein called anti-M?llerian hormone or AMH, which is an indicator of "ovarian reserve."
They did this before methotrexate treatment and again at least one week after resolution of the ectopic pregnancy in 25 women.
Dr. Juan Antonio Garcia-Velasco of IVI-Madrid and colleagues report in the journal Fertility and Sterility, that there were no significant differences in AMH levels before or after methotrexate.
"Medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate is known to be a safe and efficient alternative to surgery," Garcia-Velasco told Reuters Health.
"Now we also know it does not impair ovarian reserve for future fertility."