Iowa Radiology Blog

Fertility Changes Over Time

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant, you may be surprised at how long it can take. While women tend to be most fertile in their 20s, many in the U.S. have been waiting longer to start their families. Census data show that the median maternal age at birth rose to 30 in 2019, up from 27 in 1990. Births to women in their 20s fell dramatically during that period, while births to women aged 30–44 rose even more sharply.

A woman who experiences symptoms like trouble getting pregnant, repeated miscarriages, or abnormal menstrual bleeding may be referred for a sonohysterogram to investigate possible causes. If a transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound produces insufficiently clear images to locate the source of the problem, then a sonohysterogram may be recommended.

If your doctor recommends you undergo a sonohysterogram, you may not be fully aware of what that entails. This exam has several benefits, but also requires certain steps to ensure you are prepared ahead of time.

A sonohysterogram or saline infusion sonogram (SHG) is a minimally invasive ultrasound imaging procedure that allows a radiologist to examine the interior of the uterus and the endometrium. One reason your doctor may recommend a sonohysterogram is to investigate the cause of infertility or repeated miscarriages.

A sonohysterogram is a minimally invasive ultrasound imaging (also called “sonography”) procedure that allows a radiologist to examine the interior of the uterus and its lining (endometrium).