Women who have had their appendix or tonsils removed appear to be more fertile, a 15-year study suggests. The researchers, at the University of Dundee, analysed medical records from more than half a million British women. They argue the operations could directly affect fertility or there may be a "behavioural" explanation. Experts said the findings might lead to new treatments, but advised women not to have their tonsils and appendix taken out unnecessarily. The study found that for every 100 pregnancies in women who had had no procedures there were: 134 pregnancies in women who had had their appendix removed 149 pregnancies in women who had had their tonsils removed and 143 pregnancies in women who had had both removed One of the researchers said most doctors were wrongly taught that having an appendix removed damaged fertility, adding that this study is very important in reassuring young women that appendicectomy will not reduce their chances of future pregnancy. More importantly, looking at both the appendix and tonsils together, this study confirms beyond doubt that removal of inflamed organs or organs likely to suffer from repeated inflammation, in women, improves their chances of pregnancy. http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36940756 Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27393836
Could it be possible that the boost in fertility is triggered by the body's health recovery after having an illness that necessitated the removal of tonsils or appendix? Removing them without a preceeding illness may have no effect on fertility - as there would be no illness for the body to recover from - and so nothing to prime the body with the notion that now would be a good time to reproduce to ensure a higher chance of survivability for their child. This is all pure speculation, of course.
Or women without one or both simply don't get sick as often. Less sickness = more opportunities for pregnancy.
The tonsils - definitely. Appendix - less so. However, in the case of someone who has tonsillitis, removing the tonsils, overall, makes them healthier. Thus overall someone who has had their tonsils out (and thus cannot get tonsillitis) may well be healthier, on average, than someone who has not.
