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.

Selective salpingography and tubal catheterisation in the diagnosis and treatment of proximal tubal blockage

“…One small, retrospective, case-control study reported a high spontaneous conception rate after selective salpingography in infertile women with patent fallopian tubes. 44 Tubal perfusion pressures were not assessed in this study. It would be reasonable to speculate that the procedure may have treated a currently unrecognised pathology, by reduction of tubal perfusion pressure.…”

Interventional radiology in female infertility: technique and role

“…A recent paper emphasized the value of selective salpingography, as an adjunct to HSG in infertile patients, even if it the tubes were shown to be patent, as pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the selective salpingography group [28]. This is in favor of the ªtubal plug or tubal debrisº theory.…”