OP20.05: Hysterocontrast sonosalpingography (HyCoSy): tolerability, complication and spontaneous pregnancy rates after examination

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the tolerability, complication and spontaneous pregnancy rates of HyCoSy, at first-level examination of tubal patency in infertile patients. Materials and Methods: 440 patients underwent HyCoSy at our clinic between 2002 and 2005. A standard and predefined methodology for HyCoSy was used. Data was gathered by way of a telephone survey which was carried out at differing times from the date of examination. Tolerability was evaluated by means of an analogical pain scale (score 1 (low) −10 (high)); complications and pregnancy rates after examination were recorded. Results: Of the total 440 patients who underwent HyCoS, 163 patients (37%) (median age of 34.3 years, sd±4.2) participated in the telephone survey at an average time of 12.5 months (range ±10) from the date of the examination. HyCoSy was well tolerated with an average pain score of 2.48 ± 2.38. In 8 patients (5%) mild complications were reported (7 cases of moderate pelvic pain in the days following the examination, one case of persistent vaginal bleeding). No moderate or severe complications were reported. Thirty nine spontaneous pregnancies occurred in 160 patients willing to conceive (24.3%) after an average time of 3.05 ± 3.01 months, while for such patients the infertility-related average length of time before HyCoSy was 31.7 (±26.7) months. Conclusions: In a large group of patients HyCoSy was proven to be a safe procedure, being well tolerated and achieving a low rate of complications. The spontaneous pregnancy rate in the first six months after HyCoSy was 24%. This data supports the effectiveness of HyCoSy as a first-step examination in the evaluation of infertile women.