HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is a relatively simple, safe, and minimally invasive radiological examination used to visualize the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes through the introduction of a contrast medium. Beyond its diagnostic value, HSG also offers therapeutic benefits in the assessment and management planning of infertility. This randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine how pre-procedure education and counseling influence pain perception and anxiety levels among women undergoing HSG. A total of sixty-nine (69) women were selected using a purposive sampling method to ensure appropriate representation of individuals scheduled for the procedure. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for assessing pain intensity, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for evaluating anxiety before, during, and after the examination. All collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Socio-demographic analysis showed that 25 participants (36.2%) were between 20–29 years, 24 (34.8%) were aged 30–39 years, and 20 (29.0%) fell within 40–49 years. Regarding educational attainment, 44 respondents (63.8%) had university or postgraduate qualifications, whereas 25 (36.2%) had only primary or secondary school education. The majority, 53 women (76.8%), were married. Of the
participants, 35 (50.7%) were assigned to the intervention group and received comprehensive information about the HSG procedure, while 34 (49.3%) formed the control group and did not receive such guidance. Within the intervention group, 32 women (91.4%) reported that the education and counseling were extremely beneficial, while the remaining 3 (8.6%) found them moderately helpful. Pain assessment revealed that in the control group, 58.8% experienced moderate pain and 41.2% reported severe pain. Conversely, among the intervention group, 82.9% reported only mild pain and 17.1% experienced moderate pain. Anxiety levels followed a similar pattern: 67.7% of the control group exhibited high anxiety, whereas 88.6% of the intervention group reported minimal anxiety. Hypothesis testing indicated that all comparisons between the control and intervention groups yielded p-values less than 0.05, signifying statistically significant differences. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis was accepted.

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.