Feasibility and clinical significance of endoluminal assessment by transvaginal salpingoscopy during transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in infertile women.

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility and clinical usefulness of transvaginal salpingoscopy (TS) during transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy (THL) in infertile women.

DESIGN

Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirty infertile women, aged 22 to 43 years, who underwent THL.

INTERVENTIONS

Transvaginal salpingoscopy findings in comparison with THL findings.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Transvaginal salpingoscopy could be performed in 41.0% of the attempted tubes. In comparing rates of successful TS in relation to tubal patency, tubal morphology, and past Chlamydia trachomatis infection, patent tubes and normal-appearing tubes classified with normal morphology had a significantly higher TS success rate. However, past C. trachomatis infection did not affect the success of TS. There was a significant correlation between salpingoscopic and laparoscopic findings; however, there were no significant correlations between salpingoscopic findings and C. trachomatis antibody titers.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that TS can be performed simultaneously in some infertile women undergoing THL especially those with patent tubes or with normal-appearing tubes. Further studies are required to show the usefulness of intratubal exploration in assessing tubal infertility.