Fertility Measures in Women after Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy of Distal Ureteral Stones

Abstract

Long-term effects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) on female fertility remain a concern. Thirty-nine women of childbearing age who were treated for distal ureteral stones were surveyed. The mean age of these women was 33 years, and the average stone size was 6.9 mm. The mean calculated radiation exposure to the ovaries and the uterus was 7.53 and 10.9 mSv, respectively. Ten women (26%) attempted to become pregnant. No fertility problems were noted in these women, and 11 healthy babies were delivered. These preliminary findings provide further information regarding the safety of SWL in the treatment of distal ureteral stones in women of reproductive age.