Role of Hysterolaparoscopy in Infertility

INTRODUCTION

Infertility affects about 10–15% of reproductive-age couples. Although the prevalence of infertility is believed to have remained relatively stable during past 40 years, the demand for evaluation and infertility treatment has increased.^1,2

Majority of pelvic pathology is frequently not well appreciated by routine pelvic examinations and the usual diagnostic procedures. Hysterolaparoscopy becomes the “third eye” of the gynecologist in diagnosis of infertility. Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy can be used for both diagnostic and operative purposes.

Laparoscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing tubal and peritoneal disease. It has got an advantage of direct visualization of the pelvic organs and the peritubal status, which provides greater information when compared to hysterosalpingography and ultrasonography.

Hysteroscopy has become the gold standard for diagnosis of intrauterine abnormalities. Small intrauterine lesions such as adhesions, polyps, or submucous myomas are diagnosed much more precisely by hysteroscopy.

The question of tubal morphology and patency, ovarian morphology, an unsuspected pelvic pathology, and uterine cavity abnormalities can all be resolved with accuracy at one session. Additionally, therapeutic procedures can also be done in the same sitting.

Hence, hysterolaparoscopy is an effective and safe tool in comprehensive evaluation of infertility to diagnose and treat the lesions of pelvis in the same time.²

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was done for a period of 2 years in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, from October 2014 to August 2016.

RESULTS

Out of 90 subjects, 66 (73.3%) had primary infertility and 24 (26.7%) had secondary infertility. The age distribution of these two groups is shown in Table 1.

Out of 90 cases studied, 68 (75.6%) had normal findings, 10 (11.1%) had endometrial polyps, 1 (1.1%) had submucous fibroid, 5 (5.6%) had septate uterus, 3 (3.3%) had hyperplastic endometrium, and 1 each had atrophic endometrium, intrauterine adhesions, and hypoplastic uterus, respectively (Table 2).

Laparoscopic findings of uterus in 90 cases for infertility findings were as follows: 74 (78.%) of them had normal findings, 12 (13.3%) of them had fibroid uterus, and 1 (1.1%) each had unicornuate uterus and hypoplastic uterus (Table 3).

Laparoscopic findings of pelvic pathology showed endometriosis in 27 cases of which minimal endometriosis was seen in 10 (32.3%), mild in 6 (19.4%), moderate in 9 (29%), and severe in 2 (6.5%) cases. Four (12.9%) of them had omental adhesions (Table 4).

Seventy-four (60%) of them had normal fallopian tubes. Pathological findings included peritubal adhesions, hydrosalphinx, tortuousity, stretching and kinking of tubes, tubo-ovarian mass, hematosalphinx, and absent tubes. One of the tubes could not be visualized due to adhesions in 4 cases (Table 5).

Laparoscopic findings of ovaries are depicted in Table 6. Polycystic ovaries were seen in 30% of cases, and endometriotic cyst was noted in 11 cases. Ovaries could not be visualized due to adhesions in four cases.

Chromopertubation findings of 90 cases showed bilateral spillage in 67 (74.4 %) patients. Unilateral spillage was seen in 15 (16.7%), and there was tubal block in 8 (8.9%) cases (Table 7).

Laparoscopic interventions were performed in the form of ovarian cystectomy in 17 (18.8%), paraovarian cystectomy in 3 (3.3%), adhesiolysis in 2 (2.2%) cases, drilling of polycystic ovaries in 26 (28.8%) cases, fulguration or excision of endometriosis nodules in 4 (4.4%), myomectomy in 7 (7.7%) cases), fimbrial cystectomy in 2 (2.22%), and unilateral salpingectomy done in 2 (2.22%) (Table 8).

Hysteroscopic interventions were performed in the form of curettage in 08 (33.3%), hysterocopic cannulation in 2 (8.3%), polypectomy and septal resection in 5 (20.8%) cases each, submucosal fibroid resection in 1 (4.2%) case, and tubal block released in 2 (8.3%) (Table 9).

DISCUSSION

The present study was a cross-sectional study done for period of 2 years in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, from October 2014 to August 2016. In our study, out of 90 subjects, 66 (73.3%) were primary infertility and 24 (26.7%) were secondary infertility which is comparable to study by AM Elbareg et al.³

The commonest hysteroscopic uterine cavity abnormality was endometrial polyp seen in 10%. The same is observed in studies done by Zhang et al., Nayak et al., and Elbareg et al.^3–5

The second most common hysteroscopic uterine cavity abnormality in our study was septate uterus which was similar to study by Nayak et al.,⁵ where septate uterus was found at higher incidence of 10% in their study (Tables 7 to 9).

In a study by Elbareg et al.,³ significant hysteroscopy findings were noted in 50% of cases, and in our study significant findings were noted in 24.4 %.

It has been associated with increased miscarriage rates, but there is no evidence of lower pregnancy rates.³

In our study, polypectomy was done in 5.55% cases which are comparable to study by Keya Vaid et al.⁶

In our study, tubal cannulation was performed hysteroscopically in 2 (2.2%) cases out of 90 cases, compared to Keya et al., where hysteroscopic cannulation was performed in 8%.

Laparoscopy with concurrent chromopertubation is considered as gold standard for diagnosing tubal functions. Hei et al. found that 6.04% had bilateral tubal occlusion, and 5. 69% had unilateral tubal occlusion.⁷

In our study, 8.9% had bilateral tubal occlusion, 16.7% had unilateral tubal occlusion, and bilateral tubal patency was demonstrated in 74.4%. In a study by Godinjak Z, bilateral tubal patency was demonstrated in 86.67%, bilateral tubal block in 5%, and unilateral block in 8.33% of patients.⁸

In our study, laparoscopic findings of uterus were as follows: 74 (78.9%) of them had normal study, 12 (13.3%) of them had fibroid uterus, 5 (20.8%) had septate uterus, 1 (1.1%) each had unicornuate uterus and hypoplastic uterus. Mullerian anomalies were comparatively more in our study when compared to Suman et al. which had 4% congenital anomalies.

Our study revealed myomas in 13.3 % patients on laparoscopy and 1.1% on hysteroscopy which is comparable to study by Zhan et al.⁴ which revealed myomas in 15%. Also in a review by Pritts et al.,⁹they found that fibroids causing intracavitary distortion result in decreased pregnancy rates.^4,9

In our study, 60% of the cases had normal fallopian tubes, and most common pathological finding was hydrosalphinx seen in 5%, compared to Keya vaid et al.⁶ Hydrosalphinx was observed in 2.59%; however, most common pathology in their study were fimbrial cyst 9.84%. Other pathology in tubes found in our study were as follows: 6 (13.6%) had peritubal adhesions, 2 (5%) had tortuous, stretched, and kinking tubes and 1 each (2.5%) had tubo-ovarian mass, hematosalphinx, absent tubes, and tube could not be visualized in 1 case (2.5%).⁶

In the study done by Shobha Dhananjay et al.,¹⁰ PCOS was the commonest finding noted in 18.99% similar to our study. The other more commonly seen pathology in ovary in our study was endometriomas with incidence of 12.6%.

The surgical removal of endometriotic implants in minimal–mild severity endometriosis was shown to improve fertility in two randomized controlled studies. Thus, all patients with endometriosis should have all visible implants excised during laparoscopic diagnosis. According to Adamson, in the more severe stages of endometriosis, a surgical approach that normalizes pelvic anatomic distortion and provides adhesiolysis can enhance fertility^11,12

In our study, endometriosis was seen in total of 27 cases which were subclassified according to ASRM criteria, and fulguration of endometriotic spots was performed in 4 (4.4%).⁶ Endometrioma resection was done in 12.2%.

CONCLUSION

Based on results of this study it be concluded that hysterolaparoscopy is an effective and safe tool in comprehensive evaluation of infertility to diagnose and treat the various pathological conditions in the same time. Hence, it is an essential tool for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, as it allows the gynecologist to develop the plan of management for infertile women.

REFERENCES

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