Role of hysteroscopy prior to assisted reproduction techniques

Abstract

Study objective: To determine whether diagnostic hysteroscopy before assisted reproduction techniques (ΑRT) in women without known disease of the uterine cavity is necessary.

Design: Prospective cohort clinical study.

Setting: Reproductive medicine clinic.

Patients: The study group consisted of 217 infertile women attending the Reproductive Clinic for examination before undergoing ART, either in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Interventions: Patients underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) and hysterosalpingography (HSG) for initial evaluation. If there were no abnormal intrauterine findings, diagnostic hysteroscopy was additionally performed.

Measurements and main results: The safety and diagnostic value of hysteroscopy before ART was examined. Diagnostic hysteroscopy was performed successfully, without complications, in all 217 women. Ninety-five (43.7%) had a history of ART failures (group 1), and 122 (56.3%) had undergone no previous ART attempts (group 2). In 148 women (68.2%), findings at hysteroscopy were normal, whereas in 69 (31.8%), hysteroscopy revealed intrauterine lesions (polyps, septa, submucosal leiomyomas, or synechiae) that led to operative hysteroscopy. The most common intrauterine abnormality was the presence of endometrial polyps in 26 patients (12%). The total percentage of abnormal intrauterine findings was higher in women with a history of repeated ART failures in comparison with those with no history of ART attempts. No statistically significant difference in the outcome of in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection was observed between women with normal hysteroscopic findings and patients with hysteroscopically corrected endometrial disease.

Conclusion: Sensitivity of diagnostic hysteroscopy is significantly higher than TVS and HSG in the diagnosis of intrauterine lesions. Diagnostic hysteroscopy should be performed before ART in all patients, including women with normal TVS and/or HSG findings, because a significant percentage of them have undiagnosed uterine disease that may impair the success of fertility treatment.

Keywords: Assisted reproduction techniques; Hysterosalpingography; Hysteroscopy; Infertility; Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; In vitro fertilization.