Correcting different causes of infertility

  • Laparoscopy

    Women who have been diagnosed with tubal or pelvic disease can either undergo surgery to reconstruct the reproductive organs or try to conceive through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Using a laparoscope inserted through a cut near the belly button, scar tissue or ovarian cysts can be removed, endometriosis treated, and blocked tubes opened.

  • Fallopian tube recanalisation

    This new non-surgical micro procedure was successfully performed in South Africa for the first time in early 2022 by interventional radiologists, Dr Gary Sudwarts and Dr Maja Wojno. The painless procedure, which does not require a patient to stay over in hospital, is currently offered at Netcare Park Lane, Netcare uMhlanga, Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial and UCT Private Academic hospitals.

  • Hysteroscopy

    A hysteroscope placed into the uterus through the cervix can be used to remove polyps and fibroid tumours, divide scar tissue, and open blocked tubes.

  • Uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE)

    In this minimally invasive procedure, catheters are used together with imaging tools such as X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The catheters are inserted via minor puncture wounds in the groin to inject microscopic particles into the arteries supplying the fibroids with nutrients, causing them to shrink dramatically. Patients usually only stay in hospital overnight, the procedure is less painful and recovery time is much shorter compared to open surgery (myomectomy) to remove the fibroids. In some cases, UFE is used to shrink the tumours which are then removed through myomectomy surgery.

Treatments focused on achieving conception

Various treatments are available to specifically facilitate fertilisation and conception – these are often
done in highly specialised laboratories and include:

Intrauterine insemination

During this procedure semen is collected, rinsed with a special solution, and then placed into the uterus at the time of ovulation. The sperm are deposited into the uterus through a slender catheter that is inserted through the cervix. This procedure can be done in combination with the use of medications that stimulate ovulation.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

This technique is used in the case of sperm-related infertility. The sperm are injected directly into the egg in a culture dish and then placed into the woman’s uterus.