I was born with an abnormal uterus. Could this affect my fertility? i-checksum="3902" ends

Authors:

Schenk LM. Coddington III CC.

Institution

Dr. L. M. Schenk, Jones Inst. For Reproductive Med., 601 Colley Ave., Norfolk, VA 23507; United States.

Title:

The role of hysteroscopy in unexplained infertility.

Source:

Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of North America. Vol 8(4) (pp87-601), 1997.

Abstract:

Unexplained infertility is a puzzling and frustrating entity for patients and clinicians alike. Uterine abnormalities, both congenital and acquired, are frequently demonstrated in the infertile population, but the role of such abnormalities in unexplained infertility is not fully understood. The type, size, and location of uterine abnormalities in an infertile patient, as well as associated symptoms and individual patient history, are factors which assist the clinician in determining the extent of their clinical importance and affect decision making regarding treatment. Several techniques can be used for the diagnosis of uterine factors. HSG remains the most practical study for the initial evaluation of infertility because of its low cost, ease of performance, relative noninvasiveness, and ability to give useful information on tubal patency. Diagnostic hysteroscopy is a safe and accurate method of uterine visualization which may be used as an adjunct to complement HSG in the evaluation and treatment of women with abnormal findings. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to evaluate the utility of routine diagnostic hysteroscopy in women with normal uterine cavities by HSG and the impact of subtle uterine abnormalities on fertility.

Please click on the required question.

1 What is infertility?

2 How prevalent are infertility problems?

3 What are the main causes of infertility?

4 What are the objectives of our infertility investigations?

5 Have there been any noticeable changes in fertility requirements in recent years?

6  What is the effect of our age on fertility?

7 I smoke cigarettes. Can this have an effect on my fertility?

8 Does my weight influence fertility?

8A Obesity! How can I lose weight?

9 I have fibroids. Could these reduce my fertility?

10 I have been told that my womb has an abnormal shape and that was the way that I was born. Could this reduce my fertility?

11 I have endometriosis. Could this reduce my fertility?

12 I have been told that I have cervicitis or a cervical ectopy (erosion). Could this impair my fertility?

13 My doctor tells me that my womb is retroverted (tilts backwards). Could this reduce my fertility?

14 I have had an ectopic pregnancy. Does this affect my future fertility?

15  We are worried that we may have a fertility problem. What should we do?

16 How will our doctor be able to identify the cause of our infertility?

17 How can we tell if I am releasing my eggs (ovulating)?

18 Investigations have shown that I have a problem releasing my eggs (anovulation). What could be the cause of this?

19 How important are my Fallopian tubes in fertility?

20 How can we tell if my Fallopian tubes are functioning?

21a What are the causes of male factor infertility?

21 How can we assess male fertility?

22  What is the purpose of a post-coital test (PCT)?

23 We have had our infertility investigations and our problem remains unexplained. How can this be?

24 What are our chances of achieving a pregnancy?

25 Where can I obtain more information?

26 Could we have some recommended infertility support groups?

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