Hysterosalpingo-Contrast Sonography (HyCoSy)
This is a relatively new technique to detect a blockage of the Fallopian tubes using ultrasound. Hysterosalpingo-Contrast Sonography (HyCoSy) is performed as an outpatient procedure and takes about 20 minutes. No anesthetic is required but the patient may experience some discomfort.
A speculum is inserted into the vagina to visualize the cervix, clean it, and then a fine tube with a balloon at its end is inserted through the cervix. The balloon is then inflated to hold it in position. The speculum is then removed and a vaginal ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina. A special dye is then injected through the uterus into the tubes.
The dye should be observed filling the cavity of the womb, passing through the tubes and spilling out at its ends. Significant technical difficulty may be encountered in obese women and in women whose wombs are tilted backward. HyCoSy has a higher rate of inconclusive results than HSG.
HyCoSy showing patent tube
Saline sonography showed no distortion of the cavity by the fibroid
The main advantages of HyCoSy is that it can be performed at the time of ultrasound examination and it avoids the use of X-rays.