Janine G Smit1, Jenneke C Kasius2, Marinus J C Eijkemans3, Carolien A M Koks4, Ronald van Golde5, Annemiek W Nap6, Gabrielle J Scheffer7, Petra A P Manger8, Annemieke Hoek9, Benedictus C Schoot10, Arne M van Heusden11, Walter K H Kuchenbecker12, Denise A M Perquin13, Kathrin Fleischer14, Eugenie M Kaaijk15, Alexander Sluijmer16, Jaap Friederich17, Ramon H M Dykgraaf18, Marcel van Hooff19, Leonie A Louwe20, Janet Kwee21, Corry H de Koning22, Ineke C A H Janssen23, Femke Mol24, Ben W J Mol25, Frank J M Broekmans2, Helen L Torrance2. 1. Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. Electronic address: jsmit9@umcutrecht.nl. 2. Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. 3. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. 4. Maxima Medical Center, Veldhoven, Netherlands. 5. Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands. 6. Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, Netherlands. 7. Gelre Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands. 8. Diakonessen Hospital Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. 9. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands. 10. Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, Netherlands. 11. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands. 12. Isala, Zwolle, Netherlands. 13. Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, Netherlands. 14. University Medical Center St Radboud, Nijmegen, Netherlands. 15. Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 16. Wilhelmina Hospital, Assen, Netherlands. 17. Gemini Hospital, Den Helder, Netherlands. 18. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 19. Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 20. Leids University Medical Center, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands. 21. Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 22. Tergooi Hospitals, Blaricum, Netherlands. 23. Groene Hart Hospital, Gouda, Netherlands. 24. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 25. The Robinson Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia; The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Hysteroscopy is often done in infertile women starting in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to improve their chance of having a baby. However, no data are available from randomised controlled trials to support this practice. We aimed to assess whether routine hysteroscopy before the first IVF treatment cycle increases the rate of livebirths. METHODS: We did a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial in seven university hospitals and 15 large general hospitals in the Netherlands. Women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound of the uterine cavity and no previous hysteroscopy who were scheduled for their first IVF treatment were randomly assigned (1:1) to either hysteroscopy with treatment of detected intracavitary abnormalities before starting IVF (hysteroscopy group) or immediate start of the IVF treatment (immediate IVF group). Randomisation was done with web-based concealed allocation and was stratified by centre with variable block sizes. Participants, doctors, and outcome assessors were not masked to the assigned group. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy (detection of a fetal heartbeat at >12 weeks of gestation) within 18 months of randomisation and resulting in livebirth. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01242852. FINDINGS: Between May 25, 2011, and Aug 27, 2013, we randomly assigned 750 women to receive either hysteroscopy (n=373) or immediate IVF (n=377). 209 (57%) of 369 women eligible for assessment in the hysteroscopy group and 200 (54%) of 373 in theimmediate IVF group had a livebirth from a pregnancy during the trial period (relative risk 1·06, 95% CI 0·93-1·20; p=0·41). One (<1%) woman in the hysteroscopy group developed endometritis after hysteroscopy. INTERPRETATION:Routine hysteroscopy does not improve livebirth rates in infertile women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound of the uterine cavity scheduled for a first IVF treatment. Women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound should not be offered routine hysteroscopy. FUNDING: The Dutch Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW).
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Hysteroscopy is often done in infertile women starting in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) to improve their chance of having a baby. However, no data are available from randomised controlled trials to support this practice. We aimed to assess whether routine hysteroscopy before the first IVF treatment cycle increases the rate of livebirths. METHODS: We did a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial in seven university hospitals and 15 large general hospitals in the Netherlands. Women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound of the uterine cavity and no previous hysteroscopy who were scheduled for their first IVF treatment were randomly assigned (1:1) to either hysteroscopy with treatment of detected intracavitary abnormalities before starting IVF (hysteroscopy group) or immediate start of the IVF treatment (immediate IVF group). Randomisation was done with web-based concealed allocation and was stratified by centre with variable block sizes. Participants, doctors, and outcome assessors were not masked to the assigned group. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy (detection of a fetal heartbeat at >12 weeks of gestation) within 18 months of randomisation and resulting in livebirth. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01242852. FINDINGS: Between May 25, 2011, and Aug 27, 2013, we randomly assigned 750 women to receive either hysteroscopy (n=373) or immediate IVF (n=377). 209 (57%) of 369 women eligible for assessment in the hysteroscopy group and 200 (54%) of 373 in the immediate IVF group had a livebirth from a pregnancy during the trial period (relative risk 1·06, 95% CI 0·93-1·20; p=0·41). One (<1%) woman in the hysteroscopy group developed endometritis after hysteroscopy. INTERPRETATION: Routine hysteroscopy does not improve livebirth rates in infertile women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound of the uterine cavity scheduled for a first IVF treatment. Women with a normal transvaginal ultrasound should not be offered routine hysteroscopy. FUNDING: The Dutch Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW).
Authors: Mohan S Kamath; Jan Bosteels; Thomas M D'Hooghe; Srividya Seshadri; Steven Weyers; Ben Willem J Mol; Frank J Broekmans; Sesh Kamal Sunkara Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-04-16
Authors: Hadas Miremberg; Hadas Ganer Herman; Mor Bustan; Eran Weiner; Letizia Schreiber; Jacob Bar; Michal Kovo Journal: Arch Gynecol Obstet Date: 2021-11-16 Impact factor: 2.493
Authors: Jan Bosteels; Steffi van Wessel; Steven Weyers; Frank J Broekmans; Thomas M D'Hooghe; M Y Bongers; Ben Willem J Mol Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-12-05
Authors: Fortunato Genovese; Federica Di Guardo; Morena Maria Monteleone; Valentina D'Urso; Francesco Maria Colaleo; Vito Leanza; Marco Palumbo Journal: Int J Fertil Steril Date: 2021-03-11