Potenrial therapeutic effects of oil-soluble contrast during hysterosalpingography in women with proven tubal patency

Abstract EN

Objectives : to determine the possible therapeutic advantages of oil-soluble contrast medium compared to water-soluble medium during hysterosalpingography on the subsequent reproductive success.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial including 60 infertile patients undergoing hysterosalpingography was performed as a part of their evaluation.

After a hysterosalpingogram with water-soluble contrast demonstrated tubal patency, 30 patients were randomized to receive oil-soluble contrast medium (oil group) and 30 patients received no additional contrast medium (control group).

The outcome measure was pregnancy and timing of pregnancy in relation to hysterosalpingography within one year of the procedure.

Results: There were 13 (13 / 30, 46 %) pregnancies in the oil group and 11 (11 / 30, 37 %) pregnancies in the control group.

In the oil group, the mean time to achieve pregnancy was short (3.2 months) compared to the control group (6.1 months ; p = .06).

There was a clinically meaningful improvement in pregnancy rates between the oil group and the control group at 1 month post-procedure (relative risk of 2.1 and 95 % confidence interval of 0.6, 7.2).

However, at 12 months post-procedure, the advantage was diminished (relative risk of 1.3 and 95 % confidence interval of CI 0.8, 2.1).

Conclusions: Twelve's months after hysterosalpingography, contrast does not appear to influence cumulative pregnancy rates.

However, the addition of oil-soluble contrast medium to water-soluble contrast medium may have the potential to reduce the time to achieve conception.