The screening of tubal abnormalities in the infertile couple.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to assess, with a prospective study, the role of hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) with an echocontrast agent and transvaginal ultrasonography alone in the evaluation of tubal status.

METHODS

Thirty patients were included in the study. These patients underwent an initial plain transvaginal ultrasound examination the day before the HyCoSy. The findings obtained from both examinations were compared with laparoscopic diagnosis, performed in the same menstrual cycle.

RESULTS

The kappa values were 0.48 for patency evaluation and 0.67 for the diagnosis of the presence of at least one patent tube, suggesting a good agreement in both cases between HyCoSy and surgery. HyCoSy had a significantly lower sensitivity (50%), but not a significantly higher specificity (75%), than transvaginal ultrasonography alone in the diagnosis of tubal infertility-related abnormalities such as peritubal adhesions.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates that the HyCoSy is a useful test when scheduling the most suitable treatment for infertile couples.