The role of hysteroscopy in the diagnostic work-up of infertile asymptomatic patients

Abstract

Purpose of investigation: To demonstrate that office hysteroscopy has a key-role in the diagnostic work-up of infertile couples. Materials and Methods: The entire database of hysteroscopies performed in 572 menstruated women from 2008 to 2011, was retrospectively analyzed. A two-dimensional correspondence analysis among endometrial patterns, age ranges, and indication for hysteroscopies was made. A main-effect hierarchical log-linear model was built to assess the goodness of the correspondences found. Results: A clear cluster of aggregation appears in case of both primary and secondary infertility, with and without other indications for hysteroscopy, as well as in case of primary infertility with irregular menstrual bleeding. In such patients, chronic endometritis, normal pattern, and uterine malformations were frequently found. The most significant correspondence was found for normal pattern and chronic endometritis in case of secondary infertility and primary infertility, respectively. Conclusions: Office hysteroscopy should be reconsidered in the diagnostic work-up of infertile couples. It is able to assess or rule out endometrial factor for female infertility.