Imaging of Infertility, Part 2: Hysterosalpingograms to Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Radiol Clin North Am. 2020 Mar;58(2):227-238. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2019.10.011. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Abstract

Infertility, or subfertility, is the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after a 1-year period of regular unprotected sexual intercourse in women younger than 35 and after 6 months in women older than 35. Although initial assessment involves a multitude of factors, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, semen analysis, and hormonal evaluation, diagnostic imaging of the female partner often plays an important role in establishing the etiology for infertility. This article provides an overview of the multimodality imaging assessment of female infertility and details the developmental and acquired pelvic abnormalities in which diagnostic imaging aids in evaluation.

Keywords: Fallopian tubes; Female infertility; Hysterosalpingogram; Magnetic resonance imaging; Müllerian duct anomalies; Ultrasonography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterosalpingography / methods*
  • Infertility, Female / diagnostic imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Mullerian Ducts / abnormalities*
  • Mullerian Ducts / diagnostic imaging
  • Ultrasonography / methods*
  • Uterus / abnormalities*
  • Uterus / diagnostic imaging