Ultrasound and infertility

The development of ultrasound has provided the clinician with the opportunity to visualize the pelvic reproductive organs noninvasively. The use of ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility has progressed rapidly to become an integral part of the management of the infertile woman. Examinations for each component of the reproductive tract have been refined. Thus, the diagnosis of uterine, tubal and ovarian pathology has been facilitated by the use of sonography. Ovarian follicular development is monitored effectively with ultrasound and has resulted in the widespread use of the technique in both spontaneous and induced cycles of ovulation. The development of the transvaginal ultrasound probe, with its better resolution, has enabled the clinician to routinely recover oocytes for in vitro fertilization without the risk of general anesthesia in a surgical procedure and has also enhanced the clinician's ability to diagnose early ectopic pregnancy.