One of the leading causes of female infertility is the obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
Operations on the pelvic organs, including abortion, endometriosis, previous inflammatory processes, and some congenital features of the development of the fallopian tubes can lead to the fact that spermatozoa cannot cause an egg and pregnancy does not occur.
The exclusion of tubal infertility factor is the primary and mandatory examination of all women who have experienced difficulties in conception.
How to determine the patency of the fallopian tubes?
There are several methods for diagnosing tubal infertility:
- hysterosalpingography (GHA);
- sonohysterography (GHG);
- laparoscopy (LS).
Our specialists prefer sonohisterography. This is a method of ultrasound imaging, which allows you to get more reliable and accurate results than using a normal physiological query.
However, the final way to assess the patency of the fallopian tubes is selected only after a thorough analysis of each specific situation.
Does sonohisterography have any advantages?
According to the results of scientific studies, the effectiveness of sonohisterography in the diagnosis of tubal infertility is not inferior to laparoscopy.
This method in almost 90% of cases allows you to establish obstruction of the fallopian tubes and identify pathological changes in the uterine cavity; In addition, sonohisterography is distinguished by the following features:
- Simplicity of the procedure;
- There is no need for anesthesia and special preparation for the study;
- No x-rays.
What examination is needed before the procedure?
It is necessary to exclude the presence of any inflammatory processes in the woman’s body because sonohysterography means introduction of fluid into the uterus.
The doctor recommends the following medical examination:
- Smears from the urethra and cervical canal, PAP-test;
- Screening for sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, trichomoniasis, genital mycoplasia);
- Screening for HIV, viral hepatitis B and C, syphilis;
- General blood analyses, general urine analysis;
- Fluorography and electrocardiogram.
What are the contraindications for sonohysterography?
- Any acute infectious diseases (pharyngitis, tonsillitis, acute respiratory viral infections, etc.)
- Acute inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs (cervicitis, vaginitis, endometritis and others).
- After the infectious process, the patency of the fallopian tubes can be assessed no earlier than in 2-3 weeks.
How is sonohysterography performed?
- Sonohysterography, as a rule, is performed in the first phase of the menstrual cycle closer to ovulation.
- A woman should sit on a conventional gynecological chair, after being examined in the mirrors, using a thin tube in conjunction with a syringe, echopositive contrast agents are introduced very slowly under ultrasound control.
- The fluid gradually fills the uterus and fallopian tubes, straightening all the folds, allowing the doctor to examine their structure, and make a conclusion about whether the fallopian tubes are passable or not.
- Usually the procedure takes no more than 30 minutes.
Will it hurt me?
- A woman may experience minor pain in the lower abdomen, comparable to menstrual pains.
- Sonohisterography does not require special anesthesia.
- Usually women feel good after the procedure and go home almost immediately, but if it necessary, they can stay for a while in our center.
How often should I undergo this examination?
- Results are evaluated within 1 year, but only if the fallopian pipes are passable.
- If the obstruction of the fallopian tubes is confirmed, then, unfortunately, most often this is forever. Tube infertility is practically untreatable and there is a very little chance of natural conception. You should not waste time, you need to contact the Bina reproductologists for an IVF and for the birth of the desired baby!
