Are Add-on Tests and Surgeries Reducing Your Pregnancy Chances?
Patient: Dr Malpani, my doctor, has ordered a bunch of new tests — 3D ultrasounds, MRIs, and even some fancy scans. They say it will help find out why I can’t get pregnant. Should I go ahead with all of them?
Dr Malpani: That’s a great question, and it highlights a very common myth in infertility treatment: “The more tests I do, the closer I’ll be to finding the cause.”
The truth? More tests don’t always mean more answers—sometimes they actually create more problems.
Patient: How can that be? Aren’t these new technologies advanced and accurate?
Dr Malpani: Yes, today’s imaging technology is incredibly powerful. We can now see pelvic structures in detail that was unimaginable 20 years ago. But here’s the catch: just because we can see more doesn’t mean those findings are always relevant.
Often, these scans pick up tiny shadows — like small benign cysts, fibroids, or areas of adenomyosis. These are very common and are often seen in fertile women too. They usually have nothing to do with infertility.
Patient: But if the scan shows something abnormal, shouldn’t it be treated?
Dr Malpani: That’s exactly where the trouble begins. Once the radiologist highlights something in the report, doctors feel pressured to “fix” it. And once you as the patient read it, it gets stuck in your mind. You start thinking, “This must be the reason I can’t conceive — I need to treat it.”
This sets off a vicious cycle of overtesting and overtreatment.
Patient: So, what happens then?
Dr Malpani: Patients get pushed into procedures—often minimally invasive surgeries—that are unnecessary and don’t actually improve pregnancy chances. It wastes your time, money, and energy, and worst of all, it leaves you disheartened when results don’t improve. Many patients even drop out of treatment altogether, losing their chance of success with IVF.
Patient: So what should couples do instead?
Dr Malpani: Use tests intelligently and selectively. Not every abnormality needs to be treated. The focus should always remain on the bigger picture: how can we maximise your chances of getting pregnant? Sometimes, the best test is not another scan but moving forward with proven fertility treatments like IVF.
Patient: Thank you, Dr Malpani. I realise now that more isn’t always better.
Dr Malpani: Exactly. Remember: don’t let shadows on a scan distract you. Always ask your doctor, “Will this test change my treatment plan? Will it really improve my chances of having a baby?” If the answer is no, you may not need it.