Transcervical tubal cannulation: a review

Rapid progress has been made in the last 10 years regarding minimally invasive access to the human fallopian tube. Coaxial catheter systems are being used with hysteroscopy, fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, and tactile sensation to cannulate the fallopian tube transcervically with consistent success. Uterotubal obstruction viewed at the time of hysterosalpingogram can often be successfully cannulated with intrauterine pregnancies resulting. This review surveys all available published series of transcervical tubal cannulation with discussion of methodology, success in establishing patency, and the resultant pregnancy rates. It also describes how this technology has been applied to the intratubal deposition of gametes and embryos, direct visualization of the tubal epithelium, (falloposcopy), and contraception. Collectively, these techniques are defining tubal pathology more precisely, allowing us to prescribe the proper therapy.