Patients experiencing infertility turn to specialists in assisted reproductive technology for diagnosis and treatment. Counseling patients and their partners through this journey is a difficult, multi-faceted undertaking for clinicians, but having the right tools can help.
3D ultrasound is a versatile resource that can help clinicians guide their patients confidently with sound analyses — from diagnosing the causes of infertility to evaluating the viability of an implanted embryo. Find out more about how ultrasound can serve infertility diagnosis and treatment.
- Is ultrasound useful when evaluating male infertility? In short, yes, it is. Ultrasound can accurately visualize male infertility causes ranging from the flawed sperm transport to physical abnormalities of the testicles. In fact, ultrasound allows clinicians to visualize the majority of the male reproductive tract easily and accurately.
- How common is septate uterus among women experiencing infertility? Septate uterus is actually the most common congenital uterine malformation found among women with infertility. Uterine malformations can greatly reduce a woman's chance of pregnancy; however, 3D ultrasound is helping to drastically improve rates of accurate diagnoses (over traditional methods of detection, such as hysterosalpingography).
- Are there ways to reduce pain during oocyte retrieval? Using a thinner needle designed for oocyte retrieval can improve patient comfort without sacrificing accuracy. Additionally, the use of 3D ultrasound over 2D allows clinicians to measure follicles more quickly and retrieve more oocytes due to better visualization.
- What is the best way to reduce the risk of bleeding during and after oocyte retrieval? Although studies have not shown definitively that using 3D color Doppler ultrasound during oocyte retrieval can enhance patient safety, it does not introduce additional risk. Further, due to the higher visibility afforded by Doppler ultrasound, clinicians are better able to avoid puncturing blood vessels.
- Does crown-rump length indicate fetal viability? Although it is just one piece of the puzzle when determining fetal viability, crown-rump length has been identified as a valuable measurement. Therefore, knowing the right time at which to perform an ultrasound, as well as which factors to evaluate, can bolster specialists' ability to counsel patients on the likelihood of in vitro fertilization success.
Patients experiencing infertility turn to experts for help and hope, but these emotionally vulnerable patients have likely heard of the uncertainty, pain, complications and unfortunate heartbreak from others who have been in their situation. Thankfully, technology in assisted reproductive technology continues to advance, and achieving a successful pregnancy is more realistic than ever.
Ultrasound offers clear diagnostic and treatment advantages — not just in terms of speed and accuracy, but also as a way of reducing discomfort, complications and unanswered questions.
