4D-HyCoSy performed in a reproductive center: retrospective analysis of pain perception, complications and spontaneous pregnancy rate after the technique.

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays 4D hysterosalpingocontrast sonography (4D-HyCoSy) represents a primary technique in the evaluation of tubal impairment, with a low rate of pain referred and complications related, but its role in increasing the chance of spontaneous clinical pregnancy in women in childbearing age is still debated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 359 women performed 4D-HyCoSy at Reproductive Physiopathology and Andrology Unit, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, during the period 2018-2020. Inclusion criteria: women attending our IVF (in vitro fertilization) center with at least 1 year of infertility. Exclusion criteria: fe -male age over 43 years, previously known severe tubal infertility, suspected anovulation, and semen abnormalities. Primary outcome: evaluation of tubal patency, complications related to technique, and pain perception evaluated thanks to a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) Scale. Secondary outcomes: clinical pregnancy rate (PR) after the technique confronted between the group of women with bilateral tubal patency (group A) with the group of monolateral tubal patency (group B) within 30 days and between 30-180 days, and 180 days-1 year from the exam. Time to pregnancy (TTP) and other obstetrical outcomes were evaluated too. RESULTS: The average age of the study's population was 33.3 years. Mean duration of infertility was 2.1 years. Complication rate was 6.4%, and in any case the use of ephedrine was required. 182 (50.6%) women reported absence of pain during the exam (VAS scale value 0) and 131 (36.5%), reported mild pain experience (VAS scale value between 1-4). Spontaneous pregnancy rate was of 29.3% in group A and 30.3% in group B; time to pregnancy was 32 ± 14.7 days in group A and 35 ± 13.1 days in group B. The insurgence of a spontaneous pregnancy was significantly lower for both 4D-HyCosy sub-groups after 30 days following technique respect to 30180 days and 180 days-1 year following the technique (both p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that 4D-HyCoSy is a safe and user-friendly technique, used as first line assessment of tubal patency of women afferent to a reproductive center. We also reported a positive impact on spontaneous pregnancy rate in women performing 4D-HyCoSy, emphasized within the first following month. This mandatory technique for tubal investigation, has not only a function in the diagnostic assessment of female infertility, but also has a therapeutic role, in young women who desire a pregnancy, avoiding, in some cases, the need of IVF treatments and clinical risks linked, while saving medical and monetary resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]