Transvaginal salpingosonography for the assessment of tubal patency in infertile women: methodological and clinical experiences.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the advantages and accuracy of transvaginal salpingosonography in the assessment of tubal patency with regards to laparoscopic chromopertubation.

SETTING

Infertility policlinic of the hospital.

DESIGN

Thirty-one women suffering from infertility were examined with transvaginal salpingosonography using air and saline as a contrast medium. The results were compared with those obtained with laparoscopic chromopertubation.

RESULTS

Altogether 61 fallopian tubes were examined with both transvaginal salpingosonography and laparoscopic chromopertubation. Concordance was 85%. Of the tubes investigated by transvaginal salpingosonography, 45 were found to be patent and 16 were found to be occluded. In chromopertubation, 50 of 61 tubes were patent and 11 were occluded. Bilateral tubal patency was found by transvaginal salpingosonography in 17 cases and by laparoscopy in 22 cases. Unilateral tubal patency was found in 11 and 6 cases, respectively. Bilateral occlusion was found in three cases using either technique.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal salpingosonography with the combination of air and saline is a low-cost, reliable, safe, and comfortable examination method. It can be used for the primary investigation of infertility on an outpatient basis.