Hysterosalpingography (often abbreviated as HSG) is a diagnostic imaging technique used primarily in the investigation of female infertility. It has been in use for a hundred years, with the first one having been performed in 1917. Many uterine problems may be diagnosed with the help of this test, including congenital anomalies of the uterus and tubes, but also any polyps, submucous fibroids, synechiae (adhesions between the walls of the uterus or tubes), and adenomyosis (growth of the endometrial lining deep into the underlying myometrium or muscular layer). Abnormalities of the tubes that may be picked up by HSG include tubal blockage, salpingitis isthmica nodosum (an inflammatory scarring condition of the tubes), polyps, hydrosalpinx (accumulation …show more content…
Advantages • An HSG is a non-invasive procedure, apart from the cannulation of the cervix to introduce the dye • It is inexpensive compared to laparoscopy and other diagnostic tests • It can identify some uncommon conditions such as uterine fistulas by the spilling of dye through the abnormal opening • The procedure is followed by spontaneous conception in a percentage of couples who had earlier been unable to conceive (probably by the breaking up of slight adhesions or the clearing away of debris by the passage of the contrast medium) which is higher with oil-soluble contrast - thus, it can be both diagnostic and therapeutic in some cases Complications • An HSG may cause cramping pain in the lower abdomen as the cannula is passed through, and dye is injected into the uterine cavity. While usually slight and resolving quickly, in a few cases it may become severe or patient may faint due to the stimulation of the vagal nerve, which called a vasovagal reaction. It may lead to the procedure being stopped before the necessary data is