3D scans before assisted reproductive technology in infertile women

This study used 3D scans to assess infertile women before assisted reproductive technology (ART). It concluded that 3D scans can diagnose abnormal wombs. 3D scans help inform doctors before ART. 

Infertility is the inability to conceive a child. Women and men are both affected by infertility. Risk factors include ovulation disorders, endometriosis (growth of tissue from the womb outside the womb), medication, damage to reproductive organs, poor sperm mobility, abnormal reproductive organs or cancer. Infertility can be treated by lifestyle changes or surgery. 

Some people may opt for ART. ART includes fertilising the egg outside the body and implanting it back into the body, sperm injection into the egg or placing sperm in the uterus. Knowing the shape of a woman's womb can help ART. 3D scans can help show any deformities. Scans examine the shape of the womb, the womb thickness and the cervix.

668 women were included in this study. Patients were examined using 2D and 3D scans. After the scans, patients were divided into groups. 148 women with normal wombs had ART. 82 women with womb abnormalities had ART. Scans identified misshapen, small and divided wombs. 

12.27% of patients were diagnosed with an abnormal womb. 586 women had normal wombs. 55% of women with womb abnormalities got pregnant. 39.8% of women with normal uteri got pregnant. 24% of women who had abnormal wombs had miscarriages. 6.7% of women with normal womb had miscarriages.

This study concluded that 3D scans identify abnormal wombs. They also help ART succeed. 

There is no data from patients with abnormal womb who did not have ART. This may affect the study's results. 

If you want to learn more about 3D scans before ART, talk to your doctor.