PDF icon Download PDF
Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809653
Review Article

Imaging Approach to Infertility

Apurva A. Javalgi
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
,
Neha Bagri 
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
,
Aanchal Bhayana 
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
,
Ritu Misra 
1   Department of Radiodiagnosis, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
› Author Affiliations
Funding This research did not receive any financial grant from funding agencies in the public or commercial sectors.
› Further Information
Also available ateRefMedOne
  Permissions and Reprints
Preview

Abstract

This review highlights the role of imaging in the evaluation of female infertility. The multifactorial origin, role of different imaging modalities, and key imaging findings are emphasized. It features all the tubal, uterine, cervical, vaginal, and ovarian pathologies accounting for female infertility and detected by imaging. The role of hysterosalpingography (HSG), pelvic ultrasound (USG), sono-HSG, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the female reproductive tract is discussed. In addition, the advances in imaging, including contrast-enhanced sono-HSG, sonoelastography, and MR HSG are reviewed. Though hysterolaparoscopy is the gold standard, USG is usually the first-line investigation, and MRI expands the frontiers of knowledge due to its enhanced soft-tissue resolution and multiplanar imaging capabilities. Though the initial clinical evaluation of infertility lays stress on serum hormonal evaluation and detecting ovulation, imaging plays a pivotal role in evaluating certain causes confined to the uterus or ovaries. The need of the hour is to develop an all-inclusive, integrated imaging strategy for the evaluation of female infertility. The current proposal is to combine Fertiliscan, a combination of high-quality 3D USG and assessment of tubal patency by sono-HSG and MR HSG, to look for detailed anatomy in one go. Nevertheless, exhaustive research is needed to establish their reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness, especially in the resource-limited settings of Southeast Asia.

Keywords

imaging - infertility - tubal - HSG - ultrasound - MRI

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

A written approval was obtained from the participant.


Consent for Publication

The authors consented to the submission of the manuscript and publication. The authors disclosed no competing interests and no relevant relationships.


Availability of Data and Materials

The cases and the images are available from the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.


Authors' Contributions

N.B. is the corresponding author and designed and revised the work, interpreted the data, and submitted the case. N.B. has approved the submitted version for publication. A.A.J. and N.B. drafted the work and approved the submitted version for publication. R.M. has revised the manuscript and approved the submitted version for publication. R.M. and A.B. have revised the work. No disclosure. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.




Publication History

Article published online:
12 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India