How Diagnostic Imaging Methods Can Reduce Un-necessary Surgeries Before ART

Several diagnostic methods have been recommended for in-vestigation of uterine abnormalities for women with infertility. Many investigators prefer to assess uterine using laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures to achieve diagnosis and treat-ment means simultaneously, but these are not offered by na-tional guidelines as initial evaluation methods.Multiple imaging modalities are being used to assess the uterine including conventional transvaginal ultrasound, three-dimen-sional ultrasound, saline infusion sonography (hysterosonogra-phy), hysterosalpingography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. These imaging methods provided well tolerate, cost-effective and less invasive ways with high diag-nostic value and accuracy. Ultrasonography (conventional and transvaginal) as a highly developed technology is an accurate and simple screening method for possible ovarian, endome-trial or uterine cavity abnormalities with more advantages than other imaging modalities in the work-up of infertile women with and without symptoms of pelvic pathology. Ultrasound is able to measure structures within millimeter accuracy and high resolution. This method also can help to differentiate acute and chronic abnormalities in the fallopian tubes. This is of high im-portance in the assessment of the infertile couple.Three-dimensional ultrasound (3D USG) is a valuable imag-ing modality with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing congenital uterine anomalies. This method provides high-reso-lution images in three different planes and helps to defining and mapping uterine lesions.Hysterosalpingography is an accurate test for diagnosing of tu-bal disease in the absence of tubal patency. This method also helps gynecologists and infertility specialists to study the con-genital and acquired uterine abnormalities.Hystero-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) is an ultrasonic procedure that allows to assess the uterine cavity and fallopian tube patency by infusing saline as contrast medium through the cervical canal. MRI (also known as NMR) is cross-sectional imaging modality with high accuracy to evaluate both the uterus and ovaries.We aimed to state the diagnostic values of imaging modalities in infertility work up versus to surgery procedures.