Hysteroscopic Evaluation of Fallopian Tubal Patency

Hysteroscopy is an important tool in the evaluation of sterility. Assessing tubal patency during hysteroscopy seems highly relevant, particularly when it allows for a low cost, fast, gentle, and accurate way of gathering information that may guide clinical care. Therefore, it is important to know which technique is the best. Thus, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of (1.) the hysteroscopic visualization of a "tubal flow" and (2.) the "Parryscope technique" as compared to the gold standard, namely laparoscopic chromopertubation. In a prospective, randomized study, the following women are enrolled: (1.) The patient is subfertile, defined as being unable to become pregnant within a year despite unprotected sexual intercourse. It is also within the standard of care to be presumed subfertile if one has tried for six months and has known risk factors that would hinder conception, including but not limited to anovulation and endometriosis. (2.) A concurrent diagnostic hysteroscopy and laparoscopy with chromopertubation are performed at the Clinical Division of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna. Hysteroscopic evaluation of tubal patency (either by a positive "tubal flow" or a visible flow of air bubbles in the "Parryscope technique") and the result of the laparoscopic chromopertubation (tubal patency existing or not existing) will be the primary outcome parameters. A total 60 patients are enrolled (30 patients in the "flow assessment" group, 30 patients in the "Parryscope" group) and randomization is performed as block randomization in 4 blocks.