Uterine cavity assessment prior to IVF. 2010

Jyotsna Pundir, and Tarek El Toukhy
ACU, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK.

Approximately 15% of couples are affected with subfertility, of which up to 20% remain unexplained. Uterine cavity abnormalities can be a contributing cause of subfertility and recurrent implantation failure. Uterine cavity assessment has been suggested as a routine investigation in the evaluation of subfertile women. Traditionally, hysterosalpingography has been the most commonly used technique in the evaluation of infertility. Transvaginal ultrasound scan allows visualization of the endometrial lining and cavity, and has been used as a screening test for the assessment of uterine cavity. Abnormal uterine findings on a baseline scan can be further evaluated with saline hysterosonography, which is highly sensitive and specific in identifying intrauterine abnormalities. Hysteroscopy is considered as the definitive diagnostic tool to evaluate any abnormality suspected on hysterosalpingography, transvaginal ultrasound scan or saline hysterosonography during routine investigation of infertile patients. Minimally invasive hysteroscopes have minimized the pain experienced by patients during the procedure and made it feasible to use hysteroscopy as a routine outpatient examination. Following recurrent IVF failure there is some evidence of benefit from hysteroscopy in increasing the chance of pregnancy in the subsequent IVF cycle, both in those with abnormal and normal hysteroscopic findings. Various possible mechanisms have been proposed for this beneficial effect, but more randomized controlled trials are needed before its routine use in the general subfertile population can be recommended.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007047 Hysterosalpingography Radiography of the uterus and fallopian tubes after the injection of a contrast medium. Salpingography,Hysterosalpingographies,Salpingographies
D007247 Infertility, Female Diminished or absent ability of a female to achieve conception. Sterility, Female,Sterility, Postpartum,Sub-Fertility, Female,Subfertility, Female,Female Infertility,Female Sterility,Female Sub-Fertility,Female Subfertility,Postpartum Sterility,Sub Fertility, Female
D005260 Female Females
D005307 Fertilization in Vitro An assisted reproductive technique that includes the direct handling and manipulation of oocytes and sperm to achieve fertilization in vitro. Test-Tube Fertilization,Fertilizations in Vitro,In Vitro Fertilization,Test-Tube Babies,Babies, Test-Tube,Baby, Test-Tube,Fertilization, Test-Tube,Fertilizations, Test-Tube,In Vitro Fertilizations,Test Tube Babies,Test Tube Fertilization,Test-Tube Baby,Test-Tube Fertilizations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012965 Sodium Chloride A ubiquitous sodium salt that is commonly used to season food. Sodium Chloride, (22)Na,Sodium Chloride, (24)NaCl
D014463 Ultrasonography The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz. Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic
D014591 Uterine Diseases Pathological processes involving any part of the UTERUS. Endometrial Diseases,Disease, Endometrial,Disease, Uterine,Diseases, Endometrial,Diseases, Uterine,Endometrial Disease,Uterine Disease
D014599 Uterus The hollow thick-walled muscular organ in the female PELVIS. It consists of the fundus which is the site of EMBRYO IMPLANTATION and FETAL DEVELOPMENT. Beyond the isthmus at the perineal end of fundus, is CERVIX UTERI (the neck) opening into VAGINA. Beyond the isthmi at the upper abdominal end of fundus, are the FALLOPIAN TUBES. Fundus Uteri,Uteri,Uterine Cornua,Uterine Fundus,Uterus Cornua,Womb,Cornua, Uterine,Fundus Uterus,Fundus, Uterine,Uteri, Fundus,Wombs
D015907 Hysteroscopy Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the interior of the uterus. Endoscopy, Uterine,Hysteroscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Hysteroscopic,Uterine Endoscopy,Hysteroscopic Surgery,Surgery, Hysteroscopic,Uteroscopy,Endoscopies, Uterine,Hysteroscopic Surgeries,Hysteroscopic Surgical Procedure,Hysteroscopies,Procedure, Hysteroscopic Surgical,Procedures, Hysteroscopic Surgical,Surgeries, Hysteroscopic,Surgical Procedure, Hysteroscopic,Uterine Endoscopies,Uteroscopies

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