Advances in the assessment of the uterus and fallopian tube function

Abstract

Hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy) using saline and Echovist is a well tolerated outpatient technique that provides a significant amount of information of relevance to the infertile woman that is not obtainable at hysterosalpingogram (HSG) whilst avoiding exposure to X-ray irradiation. When performed by experienced operators, it serves as a valuable, first-line screening test for the more invasive procedures of laparoscopy and dye chromopertubation and hysteroscopy. If detailed diagnostic information is required in women in whom there is no clinical or ultrasound evidence of pelvic pathology, the surgical technique of fertiloscopy can be considered to be appropriate. This technique permits confirmation that the ovum pick-up mechanism is normal, the tubes are patent and the uterine cavity is normal, while salpingoscopy and microsalpingoscopy permit the assessment of the tubal lumen.