Accuracy of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopic hydrotubation in diagnosis of tubal patency

Abstract

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of two methods of assessment of tubal patency, viz, hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic hydrotubation.

Design: One hundred four infertile women who were investigated with both HSG and laparoscopy in King Khalid University Hospital were selected for the study. Complete history of factors that may predispose to tubal occlusion was obtained. Patients with problems of ovulatory failure or poor semen analysis that may contribute to their infertility were excluded.

Results: The overall agreement between the two methods was 62.5%. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the two methods differed significantly.

Conclusion: It would appear that laparoscopic hydrotubation, despite its invasive nature, had an edge in diagnostic accuracy when compared with HSG. It would be advantageous to subject patients in whom HSG has shown tubal blockage to laparoscopy or any of the newer techniques of hysteroscopy or sonographic hydrotubation.