Comparison of the effect of single and multiple-dose methotrexate therapy on tubal patency in women with ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is one of the leading causes of death among the women of reproductive age. Injection of single or multiple doses of methotrexate can be used as a therapeutic approach. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of single and multiple-doses of methotrexate therapy on the tubal patency in women with ectopic pregnancy. This was an interventional study and included 80 patients with ectopic pregnancy who had been treated with a single dose or multiple doses of methotrexate. After 3 months of hospitalization and treatment, hysterosalpingography was conducted to assess tubal patency. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The frequencies of ipsilateral tubal obstruction were 12 (30%) and 3 (7.5%) in the patients who had received multiple-doses of methotrexate and single-dose methotrexate respectively. Also, 33 (82.5%) patients in the single-dose methotrexate group and 18 (45%) patients in the multiple-dose methotrexate group did not have bilateral obstruction. There was a significant difference in the frequencies of tubal obstruction between the two groups treated with single and multiple doses of methotrexate (P<0.05). The incidence of tubal obstruction in women with ectopic pregnancy was significantly lower in single-dose methotrexate group compared to multiple dose methotrexate groups.