Comparative Analysis of Saline Sonohysterosalpingography to Hysterosalpingography in the Diagnosis of Utero-Tubal Pathology amongst Infertile Women at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: The evaluation of the uterus and its tubes cannot be overemphasized in the management of infertile women. Transvaginal saline sonohysterosalpingography (SHG) is another novel method with certain advantages for uterine and tubal assessment in women. Objective: To determine the accuracy of saline SHG findings by comparing it with conventional Hysterosalpingography (HSG) findings in infertile women. Result: The concordance between saline sonohysterosalpingography and hysterosalpingography for the diagnosis of submucous fibroids, uterine adhesions and tubal patency in this study was over 94%. The saline SHG had sensitivity and specificity of 93.8% and 94.1% respectively for diagnosis of uterine fibroids (submucous) and a sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 98.9% in the diagnosis of intrauterine adhesions. It also had a sensitivity and specificity of 98.9% and 78.6% respectively in the detection of patent fallopian tubes. Conclusion: The ability of saline SHG to diagnose uterine pathology and tubal patency was comparable to that of conventional HSG. Saline SHG has the potential to replace HSG as the first-line test for the evaluation of uterine or tubal disease in infertile women.