Three-Dimensional Ultrasound versus Hysteroscopy in Uterine Cavity Assessment after Failed Intracytoplasmic SpermInjection

Abstract

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) used to treat sperm-related infertility problems(ASRM, 2008).Failed ICSI may be due to failure in fertilization or may be due to failure in implantation.Factors leading to failed fertilization are defective oocyte, abnormal sperms, improper stimulation protocol, environmental factors, or combination of any of these (Leniaud et al., 2008). Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is determined when embryos of good quality fail to implant following several in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles. Implantation failure is related to either maternal factors or embryonic causes. Maternal factors include uterine anatomic abnormalities, thrombophilia, non-receptive endometrium and immunological factors. Failure of implantation due to embryonic causes is associated with either genetic abnormalities or other factors intrinsic to the embryo that impair its ability to develop in utero, to hatch and to implant (Simon and Laufer, 2012).