Transvaginal salpingoscopy: an office procedure for infertility investigation

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of salpingoscopy as an office procedure using transvaginal access to the pelvic cavity. Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Gynecology office. Patient(s): Infertile women with no obvious pelvic pathology. Intervention(s): Transvaginal Veress needle puncture and peritoneal distension by saline. Main Outcome Measurement(s): Visualization of distal tubal segment, cannulation, and salpingoscopy. Result(s): The fimbriae were visualized in all patients. Cannulation of the distal tubal segment was achieved without manipulation of the tube in 20% before ovulation and 55% in the early luteal phase. Conclusion(s): Transvaginal fimbrioscopy and salpingoscopy can be performed as an office procedure in patients without obvious pelvic pathology. In combination with hydrolaparoscopy and dye hydrotubation, the technique provides comprehensive screening of the tuboovarian structures in the early stage of infertility investigation. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:523-6. (C)1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).