Laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool in evaluation of female factors in infertility

Chaitra Krishna, S Prathima, Savitha Chandraiah, G Anitha
In: International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2017 · vol. 6(3) , pp. 864 · doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20170469 · W2587506185
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This study evaluated 50 infertile women, finding tubal blockage and polycystic ovaries to be the most common causes of primary and secondary infertility diagnosed via laparoscopy.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-11 · read from full text ⓘ

This prospective study evaluated female causes of infertility using diagnostic laparoscopy in 50 infertile women, comparing laparoscopic findings in 35 with primary infertility versus 15 with secondary infertility; couples with male-factor infertility were excluded. The most frequent findings were tubal blockage and polycystic ovaries, while 28.5% of primary and 20% of secondary infertility cases had no visible abnormality on laparoscopy. Endometriosis was detected in 1 primary case and 2 secondary cases, and fibroids were found in a smaller subset. The paper’s key limitation is that it reports frequencies based on laparoscopy performed in a relatively small, selected sample (excluding male-factor infertility), which may limit generalizability. Relevance to endometriosis: endometriosis is reported as a laparoscopic finding in infertile women (1 primary and 2 secondary cases), though the study’s primary focus is overall diagnostic laparoscopy findings for female infertility causes rather than endometriosis specifically.

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Abstract

Background: Infertility leads to considerable personal suffering and disruption of family life. According to United Nations "Reproductive health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes". The objective of present study was to find out different causes of female infertility with diagnostic laparoscopy and their comparative frequency in primary and secondary infertility.Methods: It is a prospective study conducted on all infertile women and they underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for primary and secondary infertility during the study period. Couples who had not lived together for at least 12 months, and those with male factor infertility were excluded. Data were collected on a proforma, and analyzed on SPSS package for windows version 10. Frequencies were calculated for laparoscopic findings regarding primary and secondary infertility.Results: Fifty infertile women underwent laparoscopy during the study period, 35 (70%) had primary infertility while 15 (30%) secondary infertility. 10 (28.5%) patients with primary and 3 (20%) patients with secondary infertility had no visible abnormality. The common finding was tubal blockage in 10 (28.5%) and 5 (33.3%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. 9 (25.7%) cases of primary infertility were detected as polycystic ovaries (PCO) and 2 (13.3%) in cases of secondary infertility. Endometriosis was found in 1 case with primary infertility and 2 (13.3%) cases with secondary infertility. Fibroid was found in 3 (8.57%) and 1 (6.6%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively.Conclusions: Most common causes responsible for infertility were tubal occlusion and polycystic ovary. Infertile couple should be thoroughly investigated. Laparoscopy in infertility can be used for a definitive diagnosis.
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Background

Infertility leads to considerable personal suffering and disruption of family life. According to United Nations "Reproductive health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes". The objective of present study was to find out different causes of female infertility with diagnostic laparoscopy and their comparative frequency in primary and secondary infertility.

Methods

It is a prospective study conducted on all infertile women and they underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for primary and secondary infertility during the study period. Couples who had not lived together for at least 12 months, and those with male factor infertility were excluded. Data were collected on a proforma, and analyzed on SPSS package for windows version 10. Frequencies were calculated for laparoscopic findings regarding primary and secondary infertility.

Results

Fifty infertile women underwent laparoscopy during the study period, 35 (70%) had primary infertility while 15 (30%) secondary infertility. 10 (28.5%) patients with primary and 3 (20%) patients with secondary infertility had no visible abnormality. The common finding was tubal blockage in 10 (28.5%) and 5 (33.3%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. 9 (25.7%) cases of primary infertility were detected as polycystic ovaries (PCO) and 2 (13.3%) in cases of secondary infertility. Endometriosis was found in 1 case with primary infertility and 2 (13.3%) cases with secondary infertility. Fibroid was found in 3 (8.57%) and 1 (6.6%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively.

Conclusions

Most common causes responsible for infertility were tubal occlusion and polycystic ovary. Infertile couple should be thoroughly investigated. Laparoscopy in infertility can be used for a definitive diagnosis.Metrics

References

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