Evaluation of infertile women using transvaginal ultrasound in a tertiary health facility

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound is one of the first imaging modalities in evaluation of infertile women and generally all women  undergo an initial pelvic ultrasound to detect any probable cause of infertility. The aim is to document transvaginal ultrasound findings in women being evaluated for infertility.
Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the radiology department, University of Abuja teaching hospital, between May 2015 and April 2016. All patients who were being evaluated for infertility and had a trans-vaginal scan within the study period were documented.
Result: The mean age of two hundred and three infertile patients evaluated with mean age of 32±19 years and age range of 15-49years. The predominant age group was 25-34 years accounting for 86(42.4%). Primary infertility constituted 85(41.9%) while secondary infertility was 118(58.1%).Out of 203 patients, 110(54.2%) had normal findings on TVS while the remaining 93(45.8%) of patients had abnormal ultrasound. This was statistically significant p=0.02.Uterine fibroid, fluid in POD, polycystic ovary were the common pathologies seen on TVS with uterine fibroid the most common. The commonest combined TVS findings were fluid in POD, endometritis and hydrosalphinx. There was significant difference between right and left ovarian volume among infertile patients with polycystic ovaries.
Conclusion: The study has showed high yield of sonographicabnormalities detected on TVS among patients with infertility further buttressing the pivotalrole of TVS as an invaluable tool for investigating infertile women.

Keywords: Infertility,transvaginal,ultrasound, women