Comparative study on the role of diagnostic hysteroscopy in evaluation of the uterine cavity prior to in vitro fertilization in a developing country.

INTRODUCTION

Diagnostic hysteroscopy is a vital tool and a gold standard to evaluate the uterine cavity. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of unsuspected intrauterine abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done involving 870 asymptomatic, infertile women enrolled for IVF, who underwent a transvaginal ultrasound followed by office hysteroscopy. The presence of uterine cavity abnormalities was recorded.

RESULTS

Transvaginal sonography revealed abnormal findings in 113 patients (12.9 %). Hysteroscopy confirmed the ultrasound findings in 76 (67.3 %) women with no obvious findings seen on hysteroscopy in 37 (32.7 %). Among the 757 women, who had a normal pelvic scan, abnormal findings were observed in 108 (14.2 %) on hysteroscopy, while the remaining 649 (85.7 %) patients had normal findings on hysteroscopy. Thus, a total of 184 (21.1 %) patients had confirmed abnormalities that required to be treated before performing IVF/ICSI.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights the relatively higher prevalence of intrauterine abnormalities in our patient population. Diagnosing and treating these abnormalities are imperative to improve the success of IVF treatment. Therefore, a routine diagnostic hysteroscopy in these patients becomes mandatory before proceeding with expensive procedures such as assisted reproduction.