Diagnostic and therapeutic value of selective salpingography and tubal catheterization in an unselected infertile population.
OBJECTIVE
To present diagnostic findings and fertility outcome after selective salpingography and tubal catheterization in an unselected infertile population.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Tertiary reproductive medicine unit.


METHODS
One hundred ten consecutive infertile women. No exclusion criteria were applied. Follow-up ranged from 16 to 54 months.


METHODS
Selective salpingography and tubal catheterization under fluoroscopic guidance as the primary test for the assessment of the fallopian tubes.


METHODS
Incidence of tubal disease at selective salpingography, therapeutic effectiveness of tubal catheterization, and fertility outcome after the procedure.


RESULTS
Tubal disease was present in 31.4% of the tubes examined. Of tubes proximally blocked at selective salpingography, 52.1% were found to be normal after tubal catheterization. Proximal tubal blockage (bilateral or unilateral) was detected in 34.8% of women. This was reduced to 5.5% after tubal catheterization. Spontaneous conceptions occurred in 21.9% of the women. In total, 36.2% conceived without IVF or ICSI.


CONCLUSIONS
Selective salpingography and tubal catheterization can be useful as a primary tubal assessment tool in the investigation of infertility. In cases of proximal tubal blockage, an effective see-and-treat approach can be adopted. More research into the possible therapeutic benefits of the procedure is justified.
Papaioannou
Spyros
S
Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, United Kingdom. spyrospap@talk21.com
Afnan
Masood
M
Girling
Alan J
AJ
Ola
Bolarinde
B
Olufowobi
Olufemi
O
Coomarasamy
Aravinthan
A
Sharif
Kaldoun
K
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007047:Hysterosalpingography; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome