A recent study has found that flushing the fallopian tubes of women experiencing fertility difficulties can increase their chance of getting pregnant.
The study, conducted in The Netherlands, examined an infertility investigation called hysterosalpingography (HSG) which checks whether a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked. In the HSG procedure, liquid is flushed through the fallopian tubes while repeated x-rays are taken so that the doctor can see if and where the tubes are blocked. Studies in the past have found that some women conceive naturally following this procedure and it is thought that the flushing may remove debris from the fallopian tubes and improve their ability to transport the embryo for implantation in the uterus.
In the current study more than 1000 women aged less than 39 years with unexplained infertility who had been trying to conceive for at least one year were randomly assigned to having HSG with oil-based or water-based liquid. .
Six months later researchers found that women in the oil-based group were more likely to have conceived than those where the water-based contrast had been used. Of the women who had had HSG with oil-based contrast, 38 per cent subsequently had a live birth after the procedure compared with 28 percent who had HSG with the water-based contrast.
The study confirms that the HSG procedure can help women with unexplained infertility get pregnant and shows that the chance of pregnancy is greatest if the oil-based contrast is used.
If you have any questions about tubal flushing or would like to know more speak to a fertility specialist.
Source: Dreyer K, van Rijswijk J, Mijatovic V, Goddijn M, Verhoeve HR, van Rooij IAJ, Hoek A, Bourdrez P, Nap AW, Rijnsaardt-Lukassen HGM et al. Oil-Based or Water-Based Contrast for Hysterosalpingography in Infertile Women. New England Journal of Medicine 2017
- Log in to post comments