title: Pathologic findings in hysteroscopy before in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate hysteroscopy routinely performed prior to in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed in a prospective study 300 patients who underwent hysteroscopy before the first IVF-ET cycle. We analyzed then in a retrospective manner 300 patients who did not perform hysteroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred-and-eighty (60%) hysteroscopies were normal but 120 (40%) revealed an unsuspected intrauterine abnormality. We did not find statistically significant differences between patients with normal or abnormal hysteroscopy in any characteristic. We found a statistically significant difference in pregnancy rate between women who performed hysteroscopy before IVF-ET cycle and in women who did not perform it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hysteroscopy, as a routine examination, should be performed before the first IVF-ET cycle in all patients.
authors.affiliation: IVF Unit, Obstetric-Gynecology Department, Vita-Salute University, H San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Doldi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Sebastiano
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marsiglio
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabellotti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fusi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brigante
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*