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Advanced Imaging in Female Infertility

  • New Imaging Techniques (S Rais-Bahrami and K Porter, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review highlights the role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of reproductive disorders. The additional information that imaging studies can contribute to reproductive medicine is emphasized, including the role of pelvic ultrasonography (US, including sonohysterography and contrast-enhanced hysterosalpingosonography), hysterosalpingography (HSG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the female reproductive tract. In addition, the implications of congenital causes of infertility on the urinary tract in females are reviewed.

Recent Findings Summary

While the evaluation of infertility in women is initially focused on the assessment of ovulation via serum hormone levels, imaging plays a role in evaluating other causes of infertility. Recent research in this field focuses on the establishment of a comprehensive single imaging study for the assessment of female reproductive disorders. Two proposed methods are MR hysterosalpingography and Fertiliscan, a combination of high-quality 3D ultrasound and assessment of tubal patency with hysterosalpingo-foam-sonography, though more research is needed to determine the risks and benefits of each method, as well as their reliability.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Carolyn F. Dishuck

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Jordan D. Perchik & Kristin K. Porter

  3. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35249, USA

    Deidre D. Gunn

Authors
  1. Carolyn F. Dishuck
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  2. Jordan D. Perchik
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  3. Kristin K. Porter
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  4. Deidre D. Gunn
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Correspondence to Deidre D. Gunn.

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Conflict of Interest

Carolyn F. Dishuck, Jordan D. Perchik, and Deidre D. Gunn each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Kristin K. Porter is a section editor for Current Urology Reports.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Dishuck, C.F., Perchik, J.D., Porter, K.K. et al. Advanced Imaging in Female Infertility. Curr Urol Rep 20, 77 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-019-0942-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-019-0942-0

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