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.