Should Diagnostic Hysteroscopy be Performed Before In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer?

Hysteroscopic cervical features associated with difficult embryo transfer in unselected patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

Background

The most appropriate diagnostic tests for the assessment of the uterine cavity in patients undergoing standard infertility evaluation in daily practice remain unclear. Routine hysteroscopic uterine cavity evaluation before an in vitro fertilization-embyo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle is not a uniformly accepted procedure. However, cervical findings associated with difficult ET have rarely been reported in previous hysteroscopic studies. The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cervical finding under flexible outpatient hysteroscopy (OH) and difficult ET.

Methods

A cohort clinical study was conducted with 650 patients undergoing their first in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from January 2010 to December 2017. Of them, 605 women with available embryos underwent transfer cycles. Outpatient hysteroscopies were scheduled during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 1–3 months before starting IVF/ICSI treatment.

Results

Among the 650 women who underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) and OH, abnormal sonographic findings were observed in 51 women (7.8%) in which submucous myoma, endometrial polyp, and endometrial hyperplasia were the most common. Abnormal hysteroscopic intracavitary findings were observed in 158 cases (24.3%) in which endometrial polyp, submucous myoma, and intrauterine adhesions were the most common. These results showed that TVS was specific (100%) but not sensitive (32.3%) compared with OH. Embryo transfer (ET) was difficult in 25% of women with cervical stenosis (CS) or tortuous cervical canal (TC) and was significantly more difficult in women in the TC group (30.7%) than in the CS group (19.6%).

Conclusion

OH can identify cervical charactistics associated with a high incidence of difficult ET.

Virtual sonographic hysteroscopy in assisted reproduction: A retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the cost-effectiveness of virtual sonographic hysteroscopy (VSH) performed before in vitro fertilization (IVF) (Scenario 1), frozen embryo transfer (Scenario 2), and oocyte donation (Scenario 3) attempts.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of data extracted from patients' files was conducted. Before undergoing the assigned treatment, VSH was offered to all patients. Cost-effectiveness was calculated on the basis of cost per live birth. The total cost was compared with a control group of patients who declined to have hysteroscopy before their treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 292 women were involved. Virtual sonographic hysteroscopy was performed in 192 women. Conventional operative hysteroscopy was subsequently required in 34 of them (17.7%). Subsequent assisted reproduction attempts resulted in live birth in 111 women-34/69 (49.3%), 35/69 (50.7%), and 42/54 (77.8%) in Scenarios 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This compared favorably with 100 women who declined VSH, with live birth achieved in 15/39 (38.5%), 14/37 (37.8%), and 15/24 (62.5%) in Scenarios 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The overall cost-effectiveness of VSH compared favorably with straightforward treatment performed without this test.

CONCLUSION

The overall cost-effectiveness of treatment attempts carried out after previous VSH compared favorably with straightforward treatment performed without this test.

Effect of hysteroscopy before starting in-vitro fertilization for women with recurrent implantation failure: A meta-analysis and systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To study if hysteroscopy (HSC) before starting an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle improves IVF outcomes in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

METHODS

The Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched using the following keywords until March 31, 2017: in-vitro fertilization; infertility; hysteroscopy; recurrence; embryo implantation; and pregnancy. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two-arm prospective studies, and retrospective studies were included.

RESULTS

Three RCTs, 3 nonrandomized prospective studies, and 2 retrospective cohort studies were included. The eligible studies included 3932 women with RIF: 1841 in the HSC group and 2091 in the control group. The clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate was significantly higher in the HSC group compared with the control group (for clinical pregnancy rate, pooled odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.30-2.07, P < 0.001; for implantation rate, pooled OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45, P = 0.025). The live birth rate (pooled OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.90-1.88, P = 0.168) and the miscarriage rate (pooled OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.66-1.35, P = 0.744) of the 2 groups were not statistically significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

HSC improved the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rates, but failed to improve live birth rate and did not affect the miscarriage rate in women with RIF undergoing IVF. Since HSC plays a significant role in pregnancy and birth outcomes of women with RIF, further studies are warranted.

Role of hysteroscopy prior to assisted reproduction techniques

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.