Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Current Urology Reports 11/2019

01-11-2019 | Infertility | New Imaging Techniques (S Rais-Bahrami and K Porter, Section Editors)

Advanced Imaging in Female Infertility

Authors: Carolyn F. Dishuck, Jordan D. Perchik, Kristin K. Porter, Deidre D. Gunn

Published in: Current Urology Reports | Issue 11/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review highlights the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of reproductive disorders. The additional information that imaging studies can contribute to reproductive medicine is emphasized, including the role of pelvic ultrasonography (US, including sonohysterography and contrast-enhanced hysterosalpingosonography), hysterosalpingography (HSG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the female reproductive tract. In addition, the implications of congenital causes of infertility on the urinary tract in females are reviewed.

Recent Findings Summary

While the evaluation of infertility in women is initially focused on the assessment of ovulation via serum hormone levels, imaging plays a role in evaluating other causes of infertility. Recent research in this field focuses on the establishment of a comprehensive single imaging study for the assessment of female reproductive disorders. Two proposed methods are MR hysterosalpingography and Fertiliscan, a combination of high-quality 3D ultrasound and assessment of tubal patency with hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography, though more research is needed to determine the risks and benefits of each method, as well as their reliability.
Literature
2.
go back to reference •• Infertility Workup for the Women’s Health Specialist: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 781 (2019). Obstet Gynecol 133 (6):e377-e384. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003271 Current recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for the workup of infertility, including the role of imaging. •• Infertility Workup for the Women’s Health Specialist: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 781 (2019). Obstet Gynecol 133 (6):e377-e384. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1097/​AOG.​0000000000003271​ Current recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for the workup of infertility, including the role of imaging.
4.
go back to reference Mathews TJ, Hamilton BE. Mean age of mothers is on the rise: United States, 2000-2014. NCHS Data Brief. 2016;(232):1–8. Mathews TJ, Hamilton BE. Mean age of mothers is on the rise: United States, 2000-2014. NCHS Data Brief. 2016;(232):1–8.
14.
go back to reference • Levaillant J-M, Pasquier M, Massin N. A novel concept for female infertility exploration: the Fertiliscan©, a dedicated all-in-one 3D ultrasound exploration. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2019;48(5):363–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2019.01.008 Introduces an innovative comprehensive examination for evaluating female infertility with a combination of high quality 3D ultrasound and assessment of tubal patency with hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography. CrossRef • Levaillant J-M, Pasquier M, Massin N. A novel concept for female infertility exploration: the Fertiliscan©, a dedicated all-in-one 3D ultrasound exploration. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2019;48(5):363–7. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​jogoh.​2019.​01.​008 Introduces an innovative comprehensive examination for evaluating female infertility with a combination of high quality 3D ultrasound and assessment of tubal patency with hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography. CrossRef
15.
go back to reference • Exacoustos C, Pizzo A, Lazzeri L, Pietropolli A, Piccione E, Zupi E. Three-dimensional hysterosalpingo contrast sonography with gel foam: methodology and feasibility to obtain 3-dimensional volumes of tubal shape. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017;24(5):827–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2017.04.007 Demonstrates that the novel hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography is a well-tolerated method for the evaluation of tubal course and patency. CrossRefPubMed • Exacoustos C, Pizzo A, Lazzeri L, Pietropolli A, Piccione E, Zupi E. Three-dimensional hysterosalpingo contrast sonography with gel foam: methodology and feasibility to obtain 3-dimensional volumes of tubal shape. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017;24(5):827–32. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​jmig.​2017.​04.​007 Demonstrates that the novel hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography is a well-tolerated method for the evaluation of tubal course and patency. CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference • Volondat M, Fontas E, Delotte J, Fatfouta I, Chevallier P, Chassang M. Magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography in diagnostic work-up of female infertility – comparison with conventional hysterosalpingography: a randomised study. EurRadiol. 2019;29(2):501–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5572-2 Compares the diagnostic accuracy of MR-HSG with conventional radiographic HSG demonstrating comparable performance and reduced patient discomfort. CrossRef • Volondat M, Fontas E, Delotte J, Fatfouta I, Chevallier P, Chassang M. Magnetic resonance hysterosalpingography in diagnostic work-up of female infertility – comparison with conventional hysterosalpingography: a randomised study. EurRadiol. 2019;29(2):501–8. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s00330-018-5572-2 Compares the diagnostic accuracy of MR-HSG with conventional radiographic HSG demonstrating comparable performance and reduced patient discomfort. CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Advanced Imaging in Female Infertility
Authors
Carolyn F. Dishuck
Jordan D. Perchik
Kristin K. Porter
Deidre D. Gunn
Publication date
01-11-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Urology Reports / Issue 11/2019
Print ISSN: 1527-2737
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-019-0942-0

Other articles of this Issue 11/2019

Current Urology Reports 11/2019 Go to the issue

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms & Voiding Dysfunction (J Sandhu, Section Editor)

Female Urethral Strictures: Review of Diagnosis, Etiology, and Management

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms & Voiding Dysfunction (J Sandhu, Section Editor)

Management Strategies for Nocturia

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms & Voiding Dysfunction (J Sandhu, Section Editor)

Neobladder-Vaginal Fistula: Surgical Management Techniques

New Imaging Techniques (S Rais-Bahrami and K Porter, Section Editors)

Renal Cell Carcinoma: the Oncologist Asks, Can PSMA PET/CT Answer?