Hysterosalpingo-foam sonography: patient selection and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Tubal patency testing is crucial for infertility investigations.
• Traditional methods like hysterosalpingography (HSG) involve radiation and may have limitations.

Approach:

• This article provides an overview of tubal patency tests, focusing on hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy).
• It evaluates HyFoSy's accuracy and compares it to hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (HyCoSy) and HSG.
• A decision-making pathway based on current evidence is proposed.

Key Points:

• HyFoSy demonstrates accuracy comparable to HSG for outpatient tubal evaluation in low-risk women.
• It may be superior to HyCoSy in excluding tubal occlusion.
• Hyperechogenic contrast media can improve visualization and diagnostic yield.

Conclusions:

• HyFoSy is a viable and accurate alternative for tubal patency assessment.
• Understanding the strengths and limitations of various tests aids clinical decision-making.
• Addressing challenges like false occlusion results is important for effective implementation.