High rates of abnormalities in hysterosalpingography in couples with male factor infertility

The rate of anatomical abnormalities in infertile couples with obvious male factor is unknown. For this purpose the authors retrospectively analyzed 376 hysterosalpingographies (HSG) of couples with severe male factor. Patients were subdivided into four groups according to the woman's age, and primary or secondary infertility: A--less than 35-years-old, primary infertility, B--less than 35-years-old, secondary infertility, C--35-years-old or more, primary infertility, and D--35-years-old or more, secondary infertility. Overall, abnormalities in HSG were demonstrated in 25.5% of the patients, and in 18, 21, 52, and 40 percent of patients in groups A, B, C and D, respectively. Age was found to be a significant independent risk factor (p < 0.05) while primary or secondary infertility was not. The adjusted odds ratio for woman who were 35-years-old or more to have any abnormalities in HSG were 3.7-fold greater (95% CI 2.2- 6.23), than women who were less than 35-years-old. In conclusion, relatively high rates of female mechanical abnormalities may be found even in infertile couples with obvious male factor and are significantly more prevalent in older women.