Hysterosalpingographic abnormalities in women with infertility in a teaching hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Structural tubal abnormalities are responsible for infertility in significant proportion  of infertile couples. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) being a simple, less invasive, relatively inexpensive, and reproducible rapid diagnostic test provides valuable information about the uterine cavity and tubal architecture.

Methods: This was a 12-month review of 350 hysterosalpingograms of women with primary and secondary infertility.

Results: Seventy eight(22.3%) and 272(77.7%) patients were investigated for primary and secondary infertility. Half of the patients had tubal abnormalities constituting 31(39.7%) and 148 (54.4%) patients with primary and secondary infertility respectively; (p=0.022). Bilateral tubal occlusions was the most common abnormality seen in 99 (28.3%). Forty four (56.4%) Structural tubal abnormalities are responsible for infertility in significant proportion of infertile couples. patients with primary infertility were aged 30 years and below while 106 (39%) out of 272 patients with secondary infertility were 30 years and below. This was statistically significant (p=0.026), as those with primary infertility were younger.

Conclusion: The high frequency of tubal abnormality in this study especially in patients with secondary infertility further emphasizes the significance of tubal factor in this environment and the need to guard against tubal damage in women of reproductive age .

Keywords: Hysterosalpingography, Primary, secondary, infertility, tubal abnormalities