Do you really need Hysteroscopy before IVF?

Hysteroscopy is a medical procedure that allows your doctor to diagnose, examine, and treat issues in your uterus. A thin, lighted tube called a hysteroscope is inserted into the uterus, which allows the doctor to check the uterine cavity for any abnormalities such as polyps, fibroids, adhesions, or other structural problems.

Any abnormal growths can also be removed with the same procedure at the same time with precision and minimal invasiveness.

The decision to perform hysteroscopy before IVF depends on your specific circumstances. Below are some situations where hysteroscopy may be considered:

1. Uterine Abnormalities: If you have already been diagnosed with any uterine growths or structural abnormalities such as fibroids, polyps, or endometritis, you may want to have them rechecked before IVF.
2. Adhesions (Asherman’s Syndrome): Any previous infection, D&C, or uterine surgery can cause scarring or adhesions in the uterus, which is known as Asherman’s syndrome. If you have any such medical history, hysteroscopy may be beneficial.
3. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: In cases of multiple miscarriages, hysteroscopy may help investigate and address the potential uterine factors that could be a contributing factor.
4. Unexplained Infertility: When the initial fertility evaluations do not reveal any particular cause of infertility, hysteroscopy may be done to assess the uterine environment before starting IVF.

When is the best time to have hysteroscopy?

The best time to have a hysteroscopy depends upon the specific goals of the procedure, your own fertility treatment plan, and any underlying medical conditions. Here are some scenarios that might dictate the timing of hysteroscopy:

1. Pre-IVF evaluation: As part of your IVF treatment, hysterectomy is ideally performed in the cycle preceding the IVF treatment cycle to allow time for any necessary interventions or treatments.
2. Following diagnostic tests: Depending on the findings of your other diagnostic tests, such as hysterosalpingography (HSG), hysteroscopy can be scheduled immediately after those tests.
3. During mock embryo transfer: To assess your uterine cavity, some clinics do a mock embryo transfer before the actual procedure, and hysteroscopy is often included.
4. Before frozen embryo transfer (FET): If you have stored embryos from a previous IVF cycle, hysteroscopy may be performed before the frozen embryo transfer.

It’s important to note that the timing may vary based on individual circumstances, and the decision should be made in consultation with a fertility specialist.