Study researchers at Dundee University studied one of the world’s largest digital database of medical records. They looked at the medical records of 76,000 women who had undergone an appendectomy. Of the women in the study, 39 per cent fell pregnant first time within 10 years.

The study, published in journal Fertility and Sterility, found that the fertility rate of twice as many women who hadn’t had the surgery was just 28 per cent. This figure was found after taking many other factors into consideration including age, birth control use, number of previous hospitalisations amongst other factors.

Having your appendix out doesn’t lower fertility

These new findings disprove the theory that having your appendix out can lower your chances of conceiving. They actually go some way in proving the opposite – women how have had their appendix out in the past have an increased fertility rate, though the researchers said the results need further research to determine whether there was ‘something unique’ about women who require appendectomies.

Mr Sami Shimi, a Dundee surgeon who worked on the study, said, “We are not saying that women should have an appendicectomy to increase their chances of fertility.

“But the results to do show that women who need an appendectomy should not worry about fertility problems. Fears about infertility after appendicectomy are unfounded.”

The surgeon launched the study after female patients who required an appendicectomy to treat possibly life-threatening appendicitis expressed concerns about becoming infertile.

Source: Daily Mail Online

Photography: Janine @Flickr