Ultrasound for patency of fallopian tubes
Ultrasound examination is a modern diagnostic method that is widely used. It is absolutely painless, provides maximum information about the patient's condition, and is also available for conducting in almost any subject of the Russian Federation.
Ultrasound of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, as well as the uterus itself, allows you to identify multiple deviations in their structure or functioning, detect various gynecological diseases, and find out the cause of infertility. Naturally, this screening method is actively used to monitor the course of pregnancy, since it allows early detection of fetal malformations.
To carry out an ultrasound examination, it is required to equip the office with an ultrasound apparatus, which has a special sensor and monitor. Ultrasonic waves come out of the sensor, which penetrate the tissues, are reflected from the organ and are again captured by this sensor. The computer processes the results and displays the image on the monitor.
Ultrasound is a safe research method, therefore it is allowed to be performed on pregnant women, as many times as required by a specific situation.
Content:
- Why is an ultrasound of the fallopian tubes necessary?
- Contraindications for ultrasound of the fallopian tubes
- Preparation for ultrasound of the fallopian tubes
- How is tubal ultrasound performed?
- What do you need to take with you for the ultrasound of the fallopian tubes?
- Ultrasound with the introduction of a contrast agent
- Why do women prefer ultrasound to study the patency of the fallopian tubes?
Why is an ultrasound of the fallopian tubes necessary?
The cause of infertility is very often the obstruction of the fallopian tubes. It occurs against the background of inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, or after operations on them. An ultrasound can help determine if the fallopian tubes are patent in a particular patient. The procedure is called hydrosonography.
The study has a number of advantages over other diagnostic methods, including:
- The woman does not receive a dose of radiation, as during an X-ray examination.
- After passing the ultrasound of the fallopian tubes, there is no need to protect against unwanted pregnancy.
- During and after the procedure, the patient does not experience painful sensations.
As for the disadvantages of hydrosonography, it is only one - it is less informative, in comparison with the X-ray of the GHA.
To check the fallopian tubes for patency, you should choose the day before ovulation.
The need to check the condition of the fallopian tubes appears when a woman who has a regular sex life (without contraception) cannot conceive a child for a year. Often, such patients have a history of endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, severe purulent inflammation that could lead to the formation of adhesions.
An ultrasound of the fallopian tubes is prescribed to check their patency in the event that it is planned to stimulate ovulation, or IVF. It is necessary to abandon X-ray diagnostics in favor of ultrasound, provided that the woman is allergic to iodine preparations.
Contraindications for ultrasound of the fallopian tubes
An ultrasound of the fallopian tubes is not always available for a particular patient.
This procedure has a number of contraindications, including:
- The presence of an acute inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system, for example, cervicitis, colpitis, endometritis, etc.
- The degree of cleanliness of the vagina is below the second (third or fourth degree).
- Pregnancy, regardless of its duration.
- Malignant tumor of any organ of the reproductive system.
Preparation for ultrasound of the fallopian tubes
In order for the doctor to have an idea of the patient's state of health and prevent a woman with contraindications to diagnose the patency of the fallopian tubes, tests and additional examination are required before performing it.
It without fail includes the following procedures:
- Examination on a gynecological chair.
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
- Fence of a smear for flora.
- Taking a smear for oncocytology.
If the doctor deems it necessary, he will expand the list of diagnostic tests.
It is not recommended for a woman to eat heavy food in the morning; breakfast should be light.
How is tubal ultrasound performed?
There are three ways to check the uterus for patency using ultrasound, among them:
- External (transabdominal). The study is performed through the abdominal wall.
- Transvaginal, when the ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina.
- Transrectal. This method involves inserting a transducer into the rectum.
To conduct research inside the female body, a condom is put on the sensor.
Ultrasound of the uterus is performed most often in the first, transabdominal way. To get the clearest picture possible, a woman needs to drink a few glasses of water or juice and undergo the procedure with a full bladder.
During the diagnosis, the woman should be in a horizontal position, lying on her back. The lower abdomen and genitals should be free of clothing. To improve the contact of the sensor with the skin, a special gel is applied to the dermis. By systematically moving the sensor, the doctor examines the uterus.
To study her condition in more detail, it is possible to insert the device into the vaginal cavity or into the rectum. The bladder must be empty for this procedure. It is also recommended to give a cleansing enema if the probe is inserted into the intestines. This procedure is used to examine the uterus of girls who have not had sexual intercourse, so as not to damage the hymen.
The doctor should be aware of the woman's latex allergy if the procedure is performed in a transvaginal or transrectal manner. The research result will be received on the same day.
What do you need to take with you for the ultrasound of the fallopian tubes?
To undergo an ultrasound of the fallopian tubes, you need to take water or other liquid with you. You may also need a clean cloth (towel or diaper) to be placed on the couch. You will need a tissue to remove the gel from your belly. Be sure to have removable shoes or shoe covers with you.
You can also take a sanitary napkin with you, as after the procedure, you may experience spotting bleeding. This is a variant of the norm and does not require a visit to a doctor.
Ultrasound with the introduction of a contrast agent
It will not be possible to assess the condition of the fallopian tubes during transvaginal and abdominal examination. They only visualize the uterus. Therefore, a special technique was developed, which is based on the introduction of a contrast agent into the uterine cavity. They fill the uterus, from which it moves through the tubes (subject to their patency). The whole procedure is carried out under the control of an ultrasound machine and displayed on a monitor. As the uterine cavity fills with contrast agent, a series of images are taken, called sonograms. They record how the fluid fills the uterus, fallopian tubes, the process of the appearance of fluid in the pelvic cavity.
If the tubes are healthy, then they freely flow the introduced fluid. After a while, it can be traced in the ovarian region, and then in the abdominal cavity. This completes the procedure.
In terms of time, the study is very short and takes no more than 15 minutes. The woman will not experience pain, so she will not need to take any drugs with an analgesic effect. Anesthesia is also unnecessary.
The procedure assumes compliance with sterility. For this, a disposable liquid catheter is used. The external genitals and vaginal walls are wiped with an antiseptic solution.
Tubal factor is the cause of infertility in 35-60% of women. Therefore, ultrasound of the fallopian tubes is a standard, routine procedure that is available in all gynecological departments. This is a fairly highly accurate and safe diagnostic method that does not give complications.
Why do women prefer ultrasound to study the patency of the fallopian tubes?
Most women prefer ultrasound diagnostics of obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
This is due to the following factors:
- The examination is absolutely painless and does not require the administration of anesthesia.
- The procedure does not cause complications.
- The study does not provoke allergic reactions.
- The procedure has a small list of contraindications.
- Before carrying out it, there is no need to adhere to a diet or refuse intimacy, that is, a woman does not change her usual way of life.
- The procedure is affordable, it is possible to carry it out in any diagnostic room equipped with an appropriate ultrasound machine.
- After the procedure, there is no need to use contraception to prevent pregnancy.
This diagnostic technique in most cases allows you to determine the obstruction of the fallopian tubes, which is the cause of infertility, which means that a woman will be able to receive the treatment she needs in the shortest possible time.
The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist
Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.
