Blind aspiration biopsy versus a guided hysteroscopic technique for investigation of the endometrium in infertile women

Abstract

Embryo implantation failure and recurrent abortion are common indications for endometrial evaluation to determine the implantation window and diagnose endometrial anomalies. There are few research studies comparing the efficacy of different techniques used for endometrial sampling in infertile females during the luteal phase. Likewise, morphometric studies of the endometrium through aspiration biopsy are scant. A cross-sectional study of 30 infertile and 10 fertile females was carried out. The study participants underwent hysteroscopic and aspiration biopsies (pipelle) at the midluteal phase. Computer-assisted morphometric and pathological anatomy analyses were conducted independently by two pathologists blinded to the study. The two endometrial sampling biopsy techniques were compared through morphometric and pathological anatomy analyses using three parameters: a) the amount of material collected for the endometrial studies; b) the scope and origin of sampled materials; and c) the quality of the sample. Both biopsy techniques produced sufficient material for analysis. The directed biopsies yielded higher quality samples from targeted segments of the uterine cavity because samples were homogeneous and had no architectural distortion (p<0.05). Blood was present only in the samples obtained through a Pipelle. Endometritis was detected in 10% of the infertile women. Our findings suggest that hysteroscopic biopsies are superior to blinded aspiration biopsies