Uterosalpingography - Procedure to Conduct and Side Effects of Uterosalpingography

An uterosalpingography or a hysterosalpingography is a procedure that is performed on a woman’s reproductive system to ensure that the uterus and fallopian tubes of a woman are in a good shape. The method fundamentally uses the oldest imaging technique known to medical science – x-rays. The technique is quick and though it can cause a certain amount of discomfort, it is one of the most reliable procedures to image the interior of the uterus. There tends to be a comparison made between a hysterosalpingography and a trans-vaginal scan. It is to be noted that the latter can be used in many procedures; however, the technique does not give the amount of detailing that can be achieved with the former approach.

Procedure to Conduct Uterosalpingography

A hysterosalpingography is performed under a mild sedative. The patient is placed on a bed with her feet in stirrups. A speculum is then inserted and used to pry open the vagina. A catheter is then placed into the cervix. The speculum is then removed and a contrasting dye is then injected into the uterus. The uterus then fills with the fluid and a series of x-ray images are then taken. The more preferred technique that is used these days is a fluoroscopy. A fluoroscopy is a type of x-ray imaging that converts single images into a movie clip. Fundamentally, the imaging technique will allow the doctor to view the inside of the uterus. Further, the fallopian tubes can also be imaged. This is where the technique truly comes in use.. Any kind of blockages in the fallopian tubes can be seen through this technique. Based on the analysis of this test, a procedure can also be performed to remove any of the blockages as well.

Side Effects of Uterosalpingography

One of the side effects of the procedure is that some of the contrasting fluid can leak out into the abdominal cavity. This tends to cause a certain amount discomfort and abdominal pain. The other possible danger of the procedure is the likelihood of some kind of infection in the uterus. For this reason, the doctor may ask the patient to start a course of antibiotics well before the procedure. Some of the other preparations that need to be done before the procedure is performed is to ensure that the bowels are completely emptied so that the intestines do not remain filled, as it could interfere with the quality of images taken. As per standard procedure, one needs to inform the doctor of known allergies and medication being taken.