The potential value of magnetic resonance imaging in infertility

The potential value of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool in infertility was investigated. Twenty-six women with primary or secondary infertility and symptoms of dysmenorrhoea or menorrhagia were studied prospectively using conventional T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo techniques. Positive diagnoses were obtained in 20 of 26 (76.9%) patients. Of these, 18 (69.2%) had lesions likely to be significantly contributing to infertility. Adenomyosis was detected in 14 patients (53.8%) with 11 showing the diffuse pattern while three had discrete adenomyomas. Cystic lesions typical of endometriosis were detected in seven patients (26.9%), four of these also had evidence of adenomyosis. The endometriotic lesions were also seen at laparoscopy in each case. Five patients (19.2%) had leiomyomas, one in a patient with adenomyosis and endometriosis and one in a patient with endometriosis alone. Only one patient had submucous leiomyomas causing significant distortion of the endometrial mucosa likely to affect fertility. Magnetic resonance imaging is valuable in the investigation of unexplained infertility where it provides a high diagnostic yield particularly if uterine pathology is suspected.