Three‐dimensional hysterosalpingocontrast sonography (3D‐HyCoSy) as an outpatient procedure to assess infertile women

Abstract

Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the use of three‐dimensional hysterosalpingocontrast sonography (3D‐HyCoSy) as a routine tool for evaluating infertile women in the office.Methods: In 25 non‐selected infertile patients, tubal patency and uterine cavity were investigated by 3D‐HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated with X‐ray hysterosalpingography (XHSG) as reference.Results: The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of predicting tubal patency by 3D‐HyCoSy were 100, 33.3, 84.4 and 100%, respectively. The full contour of uterine cavity was depicted in 96% of cases by 3D‐HyCoSy and 64% by XHSG (P < 0.005). The uterine cavity area measured on 3D‐HyCoSy correlated well with the volume of contrast media required on XHSG (R2 = 0.8166).Conclusion: 3D‐HyCoSy provided advantages of better assessment of uterine cavity over XHSG. Compared with conventional XHSG, the efficacy of 3D‐HyCoSy to assess tubal patency was acceptable. In addition, the procedure of 3D‐HyCoSy appears to be better tolerated, requiring no sedation or anesthesia and a reduced examination time. Thus, 3D‐HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium is feasible and could comprise a routine outpatient procedure in the initial evaluation of infertile women.