Background:
To evaluate the hysterosalpingography (HSG) findings of women with infertility
in a tertiary center located in central Turkey.
Methods:
A total of 1,996 patients undergoing the HSG procedure for the investigation of infertility
from April 2012 to 2017 were retrospectively evaluated using the archives of the reproductive
endocrinology and radiology departments. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients
with normal HSG findings (n = 1,549) and patients with abnormal HSG findings (n = 447) were
compared, and the distribution of pathologies on the HSG examinations was evaluated as well.
Results:
There were statistically significant differences between patients with normal and abnormal
HSG findings in terms of age (25.68 ± 4.54 vs. 35.87 ± 2.65, p < 0.001), type (for secondary) and
duration of infertility [43.1% vs. 50.6% (p = 0.006); 7 (1-22) vs. 2 (1-12) (p < 0.001), respectively],
and baseline follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels [7.22 ± 1.38 vs. 7.55 ± 1.42 (p <
0.001); 45.54 ± 9.92 vs. 44.40 ± 9.99 (p < 0.001), respectively]. Among a total of 1,996 HSG examinations,
447 (22.39%) showed abnormalities, of which 237 (11.87%) were associated with tubal
pathologies, 163 (8.17%) with uterine pathologies, and 47 (2.35%) with a combination of both.
While the most common tubal pathology was one-sided distal tubal occlusion (2.91%), the most
common uterine pathology was filling defects (4.16%).
Conclusion:
HSG is the most commonly used, well-tolerated, low-cost, and safe radiological procedure
to use for the investigation of the causes of female infertility.