About 10% of couples have difficulty falling pregnant. The problem can be male, female or both. A gynaecologist will be able to arrange the necessary investigations to find a cause for the infertilty. This involves an ultrasound of the pelvis.

The development of the follicles in the ovary can be seen and give information about egg production. The lining of the uterus will respond to the hormones and will have a specific appearance at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Early in the menstrual cycle, the endometrium gets thicker (proliferative phase) and after ovulation changes, giving a different appearance in the secretory phase.

Sometimes problems which can affect fertility are found and can be treated.

 

 

 

Examples of this include endometrial polyps (a growth of the lining of the uterus), uterine fibroids (a growth of the muscular tissue of the uterus), blockage of the fallopian tubes and polycystic changes in the ovary.

The internal structure of the uterus (endometrial cavity) can be better assessed by sonohysterography and the fallopian tubes can be better assessed by hy-co-sy.

If invitro fertilization (IVF) is necessary, ultrasound is necessary to monitor growth of the follicles, to guide the needle for egg collection and putting the embryos into the uterus.