EVALUATION OF TUBAL PATENCY BY TRANSVAGINAL SONOSALPINGOGRAPHY

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate tubal patency by transvaginal sonosalpingography. Design: Comparative study of transvaginal sonosalpingography with chromolaparoscopy in subjects with unknown tubal function. Setting: Outpatient infertility clinic at Zeynep Kamil Maternity Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Patients: Forty-two cases of unknown tubal function with infertility complaints were included. Interventions: Isotonic saline was injected into the uterine cavity through a catheter. Main Outcome Measures: Transvaginal sonosalpingography is a safe, easy, and cost-effective procedure for screening tubal status. Results: The results obtained from transvaginal sonosalpingography and laparoscopy were completely consistent for 29 cases (76.32%) and partially consistent for 8 cases (21.05%). Transvaginal sonosalpingography accurately showed patency in 26 patients and bilateral nonpatency in 3 patients. Conclusions: Transvaginal sonosalpingography, with its accuracy and safety, is a promising screening and diagnostic technique in the evaluation of tubal patency on ambulatory basis.