Sonographic Evaluation of the Pelvic Causes of Female Infertility

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasound imaging plays a major role in the diagnostic evaluation of infertile women. Several ultrasound procedures have been used as an investigation method for the pelvic causes of infertility. These causes are diverse, including tubal and peritoneal abnormalities, uterine and cervical factors, and ovarian disorders. In the majority of the cases, the imaging procedures begin with transabdominal ultrasound and this technique may compensate any further investigation.

The aim of this study is to consider the role of ultrasound in the detection of pelvic causes of infertility and to quantify the incidence of these causes for Iraqi women in comparison with the global norms.

Method: A quantitative methodology was used to analyse the collected data. This study was done retrospectively by reviewing the data during 12 months for all the infertile women who registered in 3 gynaecological hospitals in Iraq. About 750 infertile women from (15- 45) years old were investigated during this year. However, Only 255 cases were used according to the sample size calculator in order to deliver a 95% confidence level.

Result: Of the 255 cases, 53.33% were normal as diagnosed by ultrasound scan and only 119 patients recognised as abnormal patients. Ovarian factors were present in 35.69 % of the selected population and the most common finding was the PCO, which present in 88 patients. The second noticeable factor was the uterine factors presented in 9.8%. Other factors such as endometriosis and PID are presented in only 1.18% of the population.

Conclusion: Transabdominal ultrasound is a valuable modality to deliver maximum information around the infertility causes associated with female pelvic organs.  The main detected cause was PCO presents in more than one third of population followed by uterine fibroid in about 10 % of the population.

Keywords: Transabdominal ultrasound; PCO; abnormalities; uterine fibroid.