THE USE OF HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INFERTILITY AND OTHER GYNECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

Hysterosalpingography was performed on 175 patients who had gynecological symptoms but negative pelvic findings, in order to test a new method of introducing the contrast medium into the uterus and tubes and to record the incidence of pathology revealed. In 132 patients, an attempt was made to secure a No. 14 Foley catheter in the uterus for introducing the contrast medium. This method was successful in 124 patients and can be recommended as being simple, less painful and more efficient than older methods. Of 156 patients with the complaints of infertility (68), dysmenorrhea (31), pelvic pain (29) or menstrual disorder (28), hysterosalpingography revealed significant abnormality in 58; most of these (47) had chronic salpingitis. One flare-up of pelvic inflammation occurred but no other complications were observed. It was concluded that hysterosalpingography is now sufficiently safe and reliable to merit wider utilization in gynecological diagnosis.