Therapeutic Value of Selective Salpingography for Infertile Women with Patent Fallopian Tubes: The Impact on Pregnancy Rate

Abstract

Objective: To determine the therapeutic value of selective salpingography (SSG) for infertile women with patent fallopian tubes. Design: Retrospective, case-control analysis. Setting: University Hospital, infertility clinic. Patients: Infertile cases with patent tubes documented by hysterosalpingography (HSG) or by HSG followed by laparoscopic examination (n = 80). Intervention(s): Hysteroscopic SSG. Main Outcome Measure(s): Patency rate of tubes by SSG. Pregnancy rate following SSG. Result(s): Eighty cases were divided into the study group (SSG performed, 37 cases) and the case-control group (SSG not performed, 43 cases). Successful SSG of at least one tube was obtained in all of 37 cases (100%) in whom SSG was attempted. A patency rate of 95.9% was documented in the 73 cannulated tubes of these cases. The total subsequent pregnancy rate (48.6%) within 12 months of follow-up after SSG was significantly higher than that (11.6%) obtained in the control group (p < 0.001). The cumulative pregnancy rate in the study group was also significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion(s): The findings of the present study encourage the application of SSG to infertile women, either as a sole therapeutic approach or in association with other methods of assisted reproductive technology, even if their fallopian tubes are shown to be patent by HSG.