EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY IN DIAGNOSING TUBAL BLOCKAGE IN INFERTILE WOMEN

Introduction: Infertility is a global reproductive health challenge, and tubal blockage remains one of its major causes. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is widely used for evaluating tubal patency. This study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of HSG in detecting tubal blockage among infertile women at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Methodology: A retrospective study design was used. Archived HSG reports of 217 infertile women were retrieved from the Radiology Department, of which 200 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a structured collection sheet and analysed with SPSS version 29. Descriptive statistics summarized the findings, while Chi- square tested associations between variables at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The mean age was 36.3 years, with most 107 (53.5%) aged 30-39 years. Secondary infertility was predominant 152 (76%), followed by primary infertility 38 (19%). Normal uterine cavities were observed in 90 (45%) women, while pelvic adhesions 45 (22.5%) and fibroids 37 (18.5%) were common abnormalities. The right and left fallopian tubes were blocked in 64 (32%) and 82 (41%) women, respectively. Overall, 88 (44%) had unilateral or bilateral tubal blockage, while 104 (52%) showed bilateral patency. Significant associations were found between age and type of infertility (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Secondary infertility and tubal blockage were prevalent among the women. HSG is still an effective and accessible procedure for evaluating tubal patency and uterine abnormalities in infertile women. However, its limitations including inability to detect peritoneal factors and lack of laparoscopic confirmation necessitate additional diagnostic methods. Keywords: Hysterosalpingography, infertility, tubal blockage, diagnostic efficacy, fallopian tubes.