A prospective study to evaluate the role of laparohysteroscopy in unexplained infertility

Abstract

Laparoscopy is considered as the preferred modality for the diagnosis of pelvic pathology but its timing and use in the investigation of infertility is an area of debate. A prospective observational study was conducted between 1 November, 2009 and 31 March, 2011, in which 30 women with unexplained infertility with at least three failed cycles of COH and IUI were included and subjected to laparohysteroscopy. On laparoscopy, pelvic abnormalities were found in 11 (36.7%) women. On hysteroscopy, intrauterine lesions were detected in two (6.7%) of the women. The commonest pelvic pathology detected was adhesions followed by minimal to mild endometriosis. Operative procedures were done in nine (30%) cases. Since laparoscopy was not only diagnostic but also therapeutic in a significant number of cases, it was concluded that laparoscopy is beneficial following failure of empirical treatment in women with unexplained infertility while the routine use of hysteroscopy requires further assessment.

Keywords: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation; IUI; hysteroscopy; infertility; laparoscopy.