Therapeutic value of selective salpingography for infertile women with patent Fallopian tubes: The impact on pregnancy rate

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 hysterosalpingogr aphy (HSG) or by HSG followed by laparoscopic examination (n = 80). Interve ntion(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 obta ined 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 w as significantly higher than that (11.6%) obtained in the control group (p < 0.001). The cumulative pregnancy rate in the study group was also signifi cantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion(s): Th e findings of the present study encourage the application of SSG to inferti le women, either as a sole therapeutic approach or in association with othe r methods of assisted reproductive technology, even if their fallopian tube s are shown to be patent by HSG, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.