A comparison of pain experienced during hysterosalpingography and in-office falloposcopy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine patient perception of the intensity of pain during in-office falloposcopy compared with hysterosalpingography (HSG).


METHODS
A prospective quality assurance study using a formal pain scale to compare two procedures.


METHODS
Patients attending a tertiary level infertility clinic.


METHODS
In-office falloposcopy or HSG using analgesics.


METHODS
The mean pain score and area under the pain curve experienced during each investigation.


RESULTS
Using our technique, in-office falloposcopy was associated with a significantly lower mean intensity of pain and with a longer procedure. The duration of the falloposcopic examination declined significantly with physician experience. Flushing adjacent to the uterotubal ostium, ostial cannulation, and rapid eversion provoked episodes of acute pain during falloposcopy.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the patient acceptability of in-office falloposcopy.
Dunphy
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Taenzer
P
P
Bultz
B
B
Ingleson
B
B
Hartman
D
D
Dodd
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009819:Office Visits; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors