Hysteroscopy prior to the first IVF cycle: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the use of routine hysteroscopy prior to starting the first IVF cycle on treatment outcome in asymptomatic women. Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, National Research Register and ISI Conference Proceedings. The main outcome measures were clinical pregnancy and live birth rates achieved in the index IVF cycle. One randomized and five non-randomized controlled studies including a total of 3179 participants were included comparing hysteroscopy with no intervention in the cycle preceding the first IVF cycle. There was a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate (relative risk, RR, 1.44, 95% CI 1.08-1.92, P = 0.01) and LBR (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.00-1.67, P = 0.05) in the subsequent IVF cycle in the hysteroscopy group. The number needed to treat after hysteroscopy to achieve one additional clinical pregnancy was 10 (95% CI 7-14) and live birth was 11 (95% CI 7-16). Hysteroscopy in asymptomatic woman prior to their first IVF cycle could improve treatment outcome when performed just before commencing the IVF cycle. Robust and high-quality randomized trials to confirm this finding are warranted. (C) 2013, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.