[Diagnostic and operative fertiloscopy]

In the last decade, ''fertiloscopy'', a new mini-invasive diagnostic technique, is becoming more and more popular: it is a good alternative to the diagnostic laparoscopy, a standard procedure but surely not harmless, very often capable to discover pathologies in asymptomatic patients. Fertiloscopy allows the visualization of the posterior pelvis (posterior face of the uterus, ovaries, tubes and intestinal ansae with the rectum), with a technique of introducing an optical device in the pouch of Douglas, through the posterior vaginal fornix, under previous general or local anesthesia. When fertiloscopy is performed under local anesthesia, it can comfortably be carried out in out-patient departments and it is generally well tolerated by patients, who follow the whole procedure on the monitor. Moreover, it is possible to perform small interventions, such as adhesiolysis, ovarian drilling, coagulation of endometriosis spots and to perform chromosalpingoscopy and salpingoscopy, important investigations in the diagnostic iter of unexplained female infertility. With fertiloscopy, the patient, therefore, can avoid a real surgical intervention, such as diagnostic laparoscopy, and also uncomfortable examinations, such as hysterosalpingography.