NCT06988774

Brief Summary

This study uses a procedure called chromopertubation to look at how fibroids and fibroid surgery affect the fallopian tubes. Specifically, this study will test if the fallopian tubes are occluded or patent (open) before and after surgically removing fibroids. Chromopertubation is a commonly performed and well-established procedure that is done during laparoscopic surgery to determine if the fallopian tubes are open or blocked. It includes inserting a dilute solution of saline with a small amount of medical-grade blue dye (called methylene blue) into the uterine cavity to see if it spills out of the fallopian tubes. Chromopertubation is considered a safe procedure - the main risk is an allergic reaction to the dye, which is very rare. The minimum amount of methylene blue dye will be used to further reduce risks of a reaction. Open fallopian tubes are necessary to become pregnant without the use of IVF. While it is known that some conditions can affect the functioning of the fallopian tubes, there is a lack of research about how fibroids affect the tubes. It is also not known how much about how the process of removing fibroids may affect the fallopian tubes. The investigators hypothesize that tubal occlusion will be observed in patients with fibroids and that the frequency of tubal occlusion will change after myomectomy compared to pre-myomectomy. This study will be conducted entirely during planned surgery for laparoscopic myomectomy. Chromopertubation will be performed at the beginning and again at the end of the surgery. This is expected to take less than 10 minutes in total. The results of the chromopertubation as well as background medical information will be recorded and the characteristics of the fibroids (size, number, and location) will be compared to the presence or abscence of tubal occlusion as determined by chromopertubation.

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2025

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 16, 2025

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 25, 2025

Completed
8 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 2, 2025

Completed
11 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 30, 2026

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 30, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

June 29, 2025

Status Verified

June 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

11 months

First QC Date

May 16, 2025

Last Update Submit

June 25, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

chromopertubationmyomectomyuterine fibroidsfallopian tube disease

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Frequency of tubal occlusion pre- and post-myomectomy

    Frequency of tubal occlusion in patients with fibroids immediately prior to and after completion of myomectomy procedures. Spillage of methylene blue dye seen laparoscopically is indicative of tubal patency. Unilateral vs bilateral occlusion will be documented.

    Limited to the duration of each surgery

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Frequency of tubal occlusion compared to fibroid characteristics

    Limited to the duration of each surgery

  • Change in tubal occlusion

    Limited to the duration of each surgery

Study Arms (1)

ATOM study participants

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients enrolled in the study who will undergo the chromopertubation per protocol

Procedure: chromopertubation

Interventions

Pre- and post-myomectomy chromopertubation procedure using dilute methylene blue dye solution for evaluation of tubal occlusion

ATOM study participants

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients undergoing minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic-assisted uterine-preserving gynecologic surgery for removal of uterine fibroids (myomectomy) by a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at MedStar.

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients with both fallopian tubes absent
  • Patients in whom it is not possible to place a uterine manipulator or catheter
  • Patient with known tubal disease or occlusion, or patients who have undergone prior tubal surgery
  • Patients with allergy to methylene blue dye or G6PD deficiency
  • Patients with positive pregnancy test on day of surgery

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20001, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (25)

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    BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 33903032BACKGROUND
  • Saunders RD, Shwayder JM, Nakajima ST. Current methods of tubal patency assessment. Fertil Steril. 2011 Jun;95(7):2171-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.02.054. Epub 2011 Mar 31.

    PMID: 21457959BACKGROUND
  • Sankey-Thomas KM, Travieso J, Salazar CA, Williams-Brown M, Breen MT. Fertility sparing management of a large broad ligament fibroid. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. 2024;31(11, Supplement):S6.

    BACKGROUND
  • Rzymski P, Wozniak J, Opala T, Wilczak M, Sajdak S. Anaphylactic reaction to methylene blue dye after laparoscopic chromopertubation. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2003 Apr;81(1):71-2. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7292(03)00036-5. No abstract available.

    PMID: 12676403BACKGROUND
  • Ramin S, Azar FP, Malihe H. Methylene blue as the safest blue dye for sentinel node mapping: emphasis on anaphylaxis reaction. Acta Oncol. 2011 Jun;50(5):729-31. doi: 10.3109/0284186X.2011.562918. Epub 2011 Mar 17. No abstract available.

    PMID: 21413854BACKGROUND
  • Pritts EA, Parker WH, Olive DL. Fibroids and infertility: an updated systematic review of the evidence. Fertil Steril. 2009 Apr;91(4):1215-23. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.051. Epub 2008 Mar 12.

    PMID: 18339376BACKGROUND
  • Nako Y, Ota K, Sujino T, Mitsui J, Kamo H, Katsumata S, Takayanagi Y, Tajima M, Ishikawa T, Komiya A, Kawai K. A Large Study About Reproductive Factors That Predict Hysterosalpingography-Identified Tubal Pathology: An Insight into the Necessity of Preconception Screening. J Clin Med. 2024 Dec 31;14(1):179. doi: 10.3390/jcm14010179.

    PMID: 39797266BACKGROUND
  • Mayrhofer D, Parry JP, Hager M, Beitl K, Kurz C, Ott J. Are the Stage and the Incidental Finding of Endometriosis Associated with Fallopian Tube Occlusion? A Retrospective Cohort Study on Laparoscopic Chromopertubation in Infertile Women. J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 28;11(13):3750. doi: 10.3390/jcm11133750.

    PMID: 35807038BACKGROUND
  • Mayrhofer D, Holzer I, Aschauer J, Selzer C, Parry JP, Ott J. Incidence and Causes of Tubal Occlusion in Infertility: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2024 Jul 6;13(13):3961. doi: 10.3390/jcm13133961.

    PMID: 38999525BACKGROUND
  • Lev-Toaff AS, Karasick S, Toaff ME. Hysterosalpingography before and after myomectomy: clinical value and imaging findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1993 Apr;160(4):803-7. doi: 10.2214/ajr.160.4.8456668.

    PMID: 8456668BACKGROUND
  • Lazaridis A, Hirsch M, Pistofidis G, Odejinmi F. Surgical management of uterine fibroids. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Oct 1;35(5):440-445. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000000903. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

    PMID: 37548229BACKGROUND
  • Jena SK, Naik SS. Methemoglobinaemia after diagnostic hystero-laparoscopic chromopertubation in a sub-fertile patient. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Oct;39(7):1025-1026. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2019.1581744. Epub 2019 Jun 9. No abstract available.

    PMID: 31179795BACKGROUND
  • Horne AW, Critchley HO. The effect of uterine fibroids on embryo implantation. Semin Reprod Med. 2007 Nov;25(6):483-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-991046.

    PMID: 17960533BACKGROUND
  • Giuliani E, As-Sanie S, Marsh EE. Epidemiology and management of uterine fibroids. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020 Apr;149(1):3-9. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13102. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

    PMID: 31960950BACKGROUND
  • Egbe TO, Nana-Njamen T, Elong F, Tchounzou R, Simo AG, Nzeuga GP, Njamen Nana C, Manka'a E, Tchente Nguefack C, Halle-Ekane GE. Risk factors of tubal infertility in a tertiary hospital in a low-resource setting: a case-control study. Fertil Res Pract. 2020 Mar 6;6:3. doi: 10.1186/s40738-020-00073-4. eCollection 2020.

    PMID: 32161654BACKGROUND
  • Donnez J, Taylor HS, Marcellin L, Dolmans MM. Uterine fibroid-related infertility: mechanisms and management. Fertil Steril. 2024 Jul;122(1):31-39. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.049. Epub 2024 Mar 5.

    PMID: 38453041BACKGROUND
  • Don EE, Mijatovic V, Huirne JAF. Infertility in patients with uterine fibroids: a debate about the hypothetical mechanisms. Hum Reprod. 2023 Nov 2;38(11):2045-2054. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dead194.

    PMID: 37771247BACKGROUND
  • Carson SA, Kallen AN. Diagnosis and Management of Infertility: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Jul 6;326(1):65-76. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.4788.

    PMID: 34228062BACKGROUND
  • Bezu C, Coutant C, Salengro A, Darai E, Rouzier R, Uzan S. Anaphylactic response to blue dye during sentinel lymph node biopsy. Surg Oncol. 2011 Mar;20(1):e55-9. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2010.10.002. Epub 2010 Nov 11.

    PMID: 21074413BACKGROUND
  • Bagadia R, Kanabar V. Can laparoscopic chromopertubation with methylene blue dye cause anaphylactic reactions like pulmonary edema? WJOLS. 2017;10(2):51-53.

    BACKGROUND
  • Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Electronic address: ASRM@asrm.org. Role of tubal surgery in the era of assisted reproductive technology: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2021 May;115(5):1143-1150. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.01.051. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

    PMID: 33642065BACKGROUND
  • Ansari AH. Methylene blue test for assessment of tubal patency: a new and simple technique. Can Med Assoc J. 1968 Jul 27;99(4):182-4. No abstract available.

    PMID: 5317820BACKGROUND
  • Akazawa M, Wu YH, Liu WM. Allergy-like reactions to methylene blue following laparoscopic chromopertubation: A systematic review of the literature. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2019 Jul;238:58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.03.019. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

    PMID: 31112852BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

LeiomyomaMyomaFallopian Tube Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms, Muscle TissueNeoplasms, Connective and Soft TissueNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsAdnexal DiseasesGenital Diseases, FemaleFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesGenital Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 16, 2025

First Posted

May 25, 2025

Study Start

June 2, 2025

Primary Completion

April 30, 2026

Study Completion

April 30, 2026

Last Updated

June 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations