Ultrasound hysterosalpingography as a preliminary infertility investigation

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of transvaginal sonographic hysterosalpingography [HSG] for detection of tubal patency. Thirty-two women with unknown tubal patency undergoing routine infertility investigations were included in this study. Isotonic saline was injected into the uterine cavity through an endocervical catheter in the preovulatory phase of the cycle. X-ray HSG was performed on the next day and laparoscopy was carried out in the late secretory phase. Complete consistency with laparoscopic findings was found in 75% of cases using US-HSG compared with 81% by X-ray HSG [difference not significant]. Partial consistency was also demonstrated in insignificantly different proportions by the two techniques [12.5% versus 6.25%, respectively]. Complete inconsistency was found in similar proportions of cases [12.5%]. All parameters of diagnostic efficiency for US-HSG and X-ray HSG were not significantly different. It was concluded that ultrasound hysterosalpingography using isotonic saline with its safety and diagnostic efficiency is a promising technique for preliminary assessment of tubal patency in infertility patients. Its use may reduce the need for X-ray HSG and laparoscopy, particularly in case of demonstrating tubal patency