Feasibility and clinical significance of endoluminal assessment by transvaginal salpingoscopy during transvaginal hydrolaparoscopy in infertile women

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.