The ovaries and your reproduction system
A thorough physical examination can help us rule out any medical issues in your body that may be affecting your ability to have a baby. Once we have ruled out these possibilities we can focus on your ovaries and reproductive system. You’re probably thinking that your ovaries are a part of your reproductive system—and you would be right. They are also a key part of your endocrine system, producing estrogen and progesterone, which have an effect on the other parts of the reproductive system. Therefore, it is important that we look at all aspects of your reproductive system and other systems that affect your fertility. Some of the tests that we may perform include:
Laparoscopy: a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed as a hospital outpatient procedure. A small, lighted scope is inserted below the naval, allowing a view of your pelvic organs while you are under anesthesia. Diagnoses such as ovarian cysts, blocked fallopian tubes, scar tissue or adhesions, and/or endometriosis may be identified and, oftentimes, treated during this procedure.
Hysteroscopy: a diagnostic exam that allows the inside of the uterus to be seen and examined for conditions such as intrauterine fibroid muscular tissue, endometrial polyps, scarring, or congenital malformations of the uterus. The hysteroscope doesn’t require an incision, and many conditions are treated and corrected during the hysteroscopic procedure.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): this procedure uses X-ray along with contrast dye to see if your fallopian tubes are clear and to check the size and shape of the inside of your uterus.
Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVUS): can reveal such conditions as ovarian cysts, ovarian size, and fibroids in the uterus and other abnormalities of the uterus. It is also used to monitor the development of egg follicles and to help guide a needle into the follicles during an IVF egg retrieval procedure. TVUS is also utilized to monitor early pregnancy.
Sonohysterography (SHG): Vaginal ultrasound allows monitoring of the uterus. Saline is infused into the uterine cavity through a catheter placed in the cervix. This is a relatively simple way to confirm that the cavity of the uterus is normal. While SHG is similar to HSG, if it is necessary to determine fallopian tube architecture, HSG is recommended over SHG.
