Infertility affects one in seven American couples. For many it is a very difficult and emotional time, fraught with uncertainty and monthly disappointment. Helping to pinpoint the cause of the problem is one of the primary roles of diagnostic imaging. With a clearer picture of the possible cause, your physician is able to provide the most appropriate care for your special circumstances.

Approximately 40% of the time, the cause of infertility can be traced to the woman. Diagnostic imaging provides unique insight into the physical structures and abnormalities which can contribute to a woman’s difficulty with conception.

At EPIC Imaging we regularly conduct several studies to provide valuable information to fertility experts throughout the region. These are supervised by EPIC’s nationally known women’s imaging expert, Dr. Amy Thurmond.

The fallopian tubes serve as the site of fertilization and the early formation and development of the human embryo. Structural defects in the fallopian tubes are the cause of infertility in between 25% to 40% of women. A minimally invasive imaging procedure known as Hysterosalpingogram is our best method of evaluating the inner wall of the uterus and the fallopian tubes. Here the radiologist is looking for fallopian tube blockage, the presence of polyps or fibroid tumors and scar tissue, all of which may contribute to infertility.

In the past, a blockage in the fallopian tube almost always required a woman to undergo surgery at a cost of thousands of dollars and a long recovery time. A new procedure called Fallopian Tube Recanalization developed by Dr. Thurmond now provides an effective alternative. Using a micro catheter in a convenient office procedure, Dr. Thurmond is able to clear the obstruction without surgery in approximately 80% of her patients offering a reasonable chance for pregnancy.

A Sonohysterogram is another important imaging procedure used to evaluate the uterus. Because the uterus provides the site of implantation and growth for the developing fetus, anything that results in distortion of the uterine cavity or interferes with its blood supply may result in either infertility or miscarriage. A Sonohysterogram is used to assess the thickness of the inner membrane of the uterus (endometrium) as well as to look for fibroid tumors or polyps.

Finally, developmental abnormalities of the uterus present at birth (Meullerian Anomalies) and benign tumors composed of smooth muscle and fibrous connective tissue (Uterine Leiomyomas) can cause difficulty with conception. These conditions are generally diagnosed using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The highly detailed images produced by MRI are frequently used as a guide to evaluate the benefits of surgical intervention.

It should be noted that diagnostic imaging is not the answer for every women coping with difficulties with conception. For more information, contact EPIC Imaging or ask your doctor for more information.