| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3966321 | Middle East Fertility Society Journal | 2011 | 7 Pages |
ObjectiveThe main conventional imaging modalities used to assess female tubal patency are hysterosalpingography (HSG) and Hystero-salpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy), which could also be used to guide tubal recanalization.Study designIt is a comparative study, which aims to test whether the use of a homogenously mixed saline and air contrast sonography could enhance the chance of spontaneous clinical pregnancy in women undergoing subfertility investigation, this is compared with other contrast media used for Hysterosalpigography (HSG). Couples with at least 1 year of infertility who were scheduled for a consultation including a hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy) were invited to participate in the study. We compared flushing with a homogenously mixed saline and air as a water-soluble contrast medium, compared with another group who used either Oil Soluble (OSCM) or Water Soluble (WSCO) as contrast media for HSG. Randomization sequence was computer generated, stratified for age and group allocation was concealed. Primary outcome was clinical pregnancy, defined as a sonographically visible fetal sac, detected within 6, and 12 months from randomization, after confirmation of tubal patency. Secondary outcomes were spontaneous miscarriage and birth. Exclusion criteria were female age > 40 years, severe male infertility, previously known severe tubal infertility and suspected anovulation.ResultsThe mean age of the study population (n = 334) was 31.9 years. Duration of infertility was 2.1 years. The clinical pregnancy rate was .31% in the HyCoSy group and 22% in the non-flushing group, compared with 33% after HSG, using oil soluble medium, and 32% after using soluble medium in HSG. Differences in reproductive outcome among contrast material groups were not statistically significant (x28 5 6.08, p. 5.64). Whatever the cause of infertility, the use of different contrast materials led to no significant differences in the rates of live births.ConclusionThe pregnancy rates after performing HyCoSy using the proposed homogenously mixed saline and water are nearly the same as those following HSG using different contrast media with inherent advantage of avoiding exposure to radiation.
