Term Delivery in an Infertile Patient after Transcervical Radiofrequency Fibroid Ablation and Assisted Reproductive Technology

Abstract

Background: Transcervical radiofrequency (RF) ablation of uterine fibroids is an incisionless procedure to treat nonpedunculated uterine fibroids, including those that are not amenable to operative hysteroscopy. However, its safety and effectiveness regarding fertility and fecundity have not been established, including among women with infertility.

Case: A 38-year-old nullipara with infertility since 2008 and a recent complaint of refractory dysmenorrhea in association with a uterine fibroid underwent transcervical RF ablation with the Sonata^® System (Gynesonics, Redwood City, CA) to treat the symptomatic myoma. Unsuccessful assisted reproduction (intracytoplasmic sperm injection/embryo transfer) as confirmed by negative pregnancy testing had been attempted 1 month preablation, and a second embryo transfer after thawing the previously cryopreserved pronuclei was performed 7 months postablation.

Results: RF ablation with the Sonata System resulted in a 68% reduction in fibroid volume noted on sonography 2 months post-treatment along with resolution of the patient's dysmenorrhea. No residual fibroid was noted on sonography 7 months postablation. A second attempt at assisted reproduction produced an uncomplicated pregnancy that resulted in vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery of a liveborn infant at term weighing 3670 g with Apgar scores of 9¹/10⁵/10¹⁰. Pelvic sonography 4 months postpartum an unremarkable uterus, again, with no evidence of a fibroid remnant.

Conclusions: This is the first report of a pregnancy and delivery in an infertile couple who underwent transcervical RF ablation of a uterine fibroid followed by assisted reproduction.

Introduction

Transcervical radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a technology that has demonstrated safety and efficacy for treating symptomatic uterine fibroids.^1–5 While the clinical outcomes of RF ablation with regard to fertility and fecundity have not yet been definitively established, there are reports of pregnancies after both laparoscopic and transcervical RF ablations.^6–10 In addition, a similar hyperthermic ablation technology, magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), has resulted in normal pregnancy outcomes and received an indication in women desiring future fertility by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Sonata^® System (Gynesonics, Redwood City, CA; Fig. 1) is a device that provides transcervical RF ablation of uterine fibroids under real-time visualization provided by an integrated intrauterine ultrasound (US) probe.⁵ This device has received FDA clearance for diagnostic intrauterine imaging and transcervical treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids, including those associated with heavy menstrual bleeding. The system also has a CE mark in the European Union. The Sonata System can be used to ablate nonpedunculated uterine fibroids, including those that are not amenable to operative hysteroscopy.^1,3,5 Two separate prospective interventional trials of the Sonata System demonstrated significant reductions in menstrual bleeding and symptom severity, and improvements in health-related quality of life.^2,3

FIG. 1.

The Sonata^® System treatment device (Gynesonics, Redwood City, CA). Photo reproduced with permission.

There have been no reports of pregnancy after RF ablation of uterine fibroids in women who subsequently undergo assisted reproductive technology (ART) to manage infertility. This article describes the case of a patient who was treated with intrauterine US-guided transcervical RF ablation and was also managed with ART.

Case

A 38-year-old gravida 1, para 0, abortus 1 patient presented in April 2017 with the chief complaint of dysmenorrhea over several months that had been refractory to medical therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Her past medical history was remarkable for hypothyroidism that was stable with medical management, a prior pregnancy that resulted in a spontaneous abortion, and a history of infertility since 2008. A reproductive workup revealed male-factor infertility. The patient had undergone her first ART cycle in March 2017; this consisted of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) followed by embryo transfer (ET) but had not resulted in pregnancy. On sonographic examination, her uterus was 8 cm in length with a 3.6 cm × 3.2 cm × 3.2–cm fundal intramural myoma (volume 19.3 cc).

Upon being presented with her fibroid-treatment options, the patient chose transcervical RF ablation with the Sonata System, aware that its safety and effectiveness regarding future fertility was not established. After negative pregnancy testing, transcervical RF ablation was then performed in April 2017, 1 month after the couple's unsuccessful attempt at assisted reproduction. A single 3.4 cm × 3.8 cm ablation was made in the fibroid with the Sonata System under integrated, intrauterine sonographic guidance; there were no complications.

Results

At a sonographic follow-up 2 months postablation, the fibroid was reduced in volume by 68%, measuring 2.5 cm × 2.1 cm × 2.2 cm (volume 6.1 cc), and the patient was free of dysmenorrhea. A second attempt at ART in November 2017 (7 months post-ablation), involving an ET after thawing of the previously cryopreserved pronuclei, did result in pregnancy. No residual fibroid was visible on a sonogram that documented an intrauterine gestation. After an unremarkable prenatal course, the patient underwent induction at 40 and 4/7 weeks' gestation, resulting in a liveborn 3670-g infant via operative vaginal delivery (vacuum assistance) with Apgar scores of 9¹/10⁵/10¹⁰. There were no reported complications. Transvaginal sonography 4 months postpartum (20 months postablation) revealed a slightly smaller uterine length of 7.3 cm, again, with no visible fibroid remnant.

Discussion

Uterine fibroids are highly prevalent and can produce significant symptoms in affected women, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, and dysmenorrhea.^11–14 While the most common treatment for fibroids is hysterectomy, transcervical RF ablation offers the potential for uterine conservation, significant symptom relief, a minimally invasive incisionless procedure, and brief treatment and recovery times. Surgical reintervention rates have been reported as ranging from 0.7% to 8% at 12 months and 11.8% at a mean of 64 months.^2–4

Although there have been an increasing number of reports of successful pregnancies after RF ablation of uterine fibroids, none involved ART. There has been a report of successful ART after MRgFUS, which is similar to RF ablation in that it is a hyperthermic-ablation technology for treating uterine fibroids, but focused US is used rather than RF energy.¹⁵

The patient described herein underwent successful treatment of fibroid-associated dysmenorrhea with the Sonata System along with 2 cycles of ART involving ICSI and ET, resulting in a successful pregnancy delivered via vacuum extraction at term. Thus, this is the first reported case of an ART-related delivery after RF ablation of 1 or more fibroids.

It is not possible to determine conclusively if this patient's successful fibroid treatment was a significant factor in supporting her pregnancy. Any role of nonindenting fibroids in infertility remains to be determined, with some researchers finding no impact on fertility and others indicating a negative effect.^16–23 With regard specifically to pregnancy after ART, there have been several reports (including a meta-analysis) that showed a deleterious impact of fibroids upon assisted reproduction, including ICSI.^20,21,23 Thus, while speculative, it is possible that the resolution of the intramural fibroid after treatment with the Sonata System might have played a role in enabling successful ET postablation.

Conclusions

This is the first report of pregnancy and vaginal delivery after transcervical ablation of a symptomatic uterine fibroid followed by ART. The normal antenatal and peripartum course following treatment with the Sonata System adds to the emerging literature base surrounding RF ablation and pregnancy, although such use in women who desire future fertility remains investigational.

Author Disclosure Statement

No financial conflicts of interest exist for Drs. Pschadka, Engelhardt, and Niehoff. Dr. Toub is the medical director of Gynesonics, Inc.