Study of Intrauterine Insemination with Hydrotubation in Women with Infertility

Abstract

Background: Hydrotubation is the instillation of a solution of medicine through the cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes under pressure into the peritoneal cavity. It has little value to test whether or not the tubes are blocked in the investigation of infertility and therapeutically to flush or clean the fallopian tubes. Materials and Methods: Sixty women with unexplained infertility were scheduled randomly for hydrotubation either with saline or low-dose lidocaine in saline. Hydrotubation was carried out 1 day before intrauterine insemination (IUI) in clomiphene citrate stimulated cycle. Outcome measures were rates of pregnancy, first trimester abortion, ectopic pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and procedure-related pain. Results: There were higher clinical pregnancy rates in lidocaine group which had when compared with saline group but statistically no significant difference found. Conclusion: Hydrotubation with low-dose lidocaine in saline 1 day before IUI allowed a significant higher pregnancy rate when compared to saline alone in couples with unexplained infertility.