Side effects and complications of sonohysterosalpingography

Objective: To evaluate the side effects and complications of, difficulties with, and possible solutions to the problems associated with sonohysterosalpingography. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): One thousand, one hundred fifty-three patients who underwent sonohysterosalpingography to investigate abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, thick endometrium at transvaginal ultrasonography, mullerian abnormalities, or the Asherman syndrome. Main Outcome Measure(s): Side effects and complications of and difficulties related to the procedure. Tolerance was assessed by using a pain-rating scale. Result(s): Ninety-three percent (1,074 of 1,153) procedures were performed correctly. Investigation was not completed in 79 (7%) women; a second attempt was successful in 60 of these patients. Side effects, such as moderate or severe pelvic pain, vasovagal symptoms, nausea, and vomiting, occurred in 102 (8.8%) women. Such complications as fever and peritonitis occurred in 0.95% of patients. Conclusion(s): Sonohysterosalpingography is a simple, safe, and well-tolerated technique that has a low rate of side effects and rare complications. (C) 2003 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.